FNA
Quick Overview
FNA History
The first Australian IVF program was set up in 1971 in Melbourne by Carl Wood, John Leeton, Alan Trounson and others who were supported by a team of nurses whose additional roles were managing donor sperm programs and assisting with early research studies.
The 80’s saw great progress with the birth of the first Australian IVF baby in 1980, and the formation of the FSA with the first annual meeting in 1982, yet there was still little formal communication or networking between ART nurses.
In 1990, the “Nurses Special Interest Group” (NSIG) was created and had their inaugural meeting at the FSA conference in Perth. This committee, comprised of a representative from each state with Heather Denholm as Chairperson, offered support to assist ART nurses to attend conferences and other educational activities, and to engage in research.
In 1997, a vote was taken at the NSIG nurses workshop to formalize the name to ‘Fertility Nurses of Australasia” (FNA).
Benefits of FNA Membership
- Maintaining a register of nursing staff for all units in Australia and NZ.
- Electing a nurse representative for RTAC and FSA Council.
- Networking between nurses in Australia, NZ and overseas.
- Access to our website based Newsletter.
- Ability to contribute an article to the newsletter.
- Two national workshops per year.
- Heavily discounted registration to these workshops.
- Free or heavily discounted access to local educational events, throughout the year.
- Encourage and promote the art and science of fertility nursing.
- Provides financial support for Nurses to attend conferences and FNA workshops
FNA Membership Fees
- Membership costs $55 per annum.
- To join the FSA and FNA simply complete an application using the Online Membership Form
Margie Parry is an experienced registered nurse with extensive clinical experience in caring for children in Brisbane and the regional hospitals of Queensland. She has travelled the IVF journey herself, and has beautiful twin boys as a result.
Margie returned to the workforce after five years of raising her twin boys and in 2003 she worked with Dr Clare Boothroyd in a day surgery unit, where egg collections were performed.
Her warm personality is a welcome presence in the ACA unit, where she is the appointed fertility nurse coordinator, and also in day surgery when the egg collections are performed. Margie also performs ultrasound scans at the time of embryo transfer.
Margie is committed to providing a holistic experience for ACA clients and as she is still involved in egg collections, couples will have her friendly face throughout their journey.
Margie has been a Queensland FNA rep since 2012 and is currently the FNA Chair.
My life in IVF land started in 1991, at Concept Fertility in Perth. I had a 3 day orientation!! And after 6 weeks worked Easter by myself. Needless to say I had an enormously steep learning curve. Hopefully I did not contribute to the woeful success rates in those days. (they were about 10% across the board).
I accepted the FNA representative position, back then “The NSIG”, in illustrious company with Heather Denholm , Heather Pollock etc. These women were brave, visionary, and formed the framework of the wonderful FNA that we have today.
Life caused me to move to Sydney and continue as a nurse co-ordinator. In 2008 I became the NUM and in 2009 resumed FNA activity. My FNA roles have included State Rep, Secretary, Chair Elect, Chair, Post Chair and now the representative to the Board.
I have often felt overwhelmed that I have been put forward for such roles, but I would give a clear message to anyone taking on a role in FNA, BE BRAVE!!! The rewards are terrific. The networking and professional friendships take you to different places in geography and experience.
My interests include gym 6 days a week, cycling on the weekends, keeping up with my local female friends…. That might involve a few wines!
On a personal note, my life is rich with my long suffering husband, (he is so understanding and good to me, and my personal chef!) 3 sons, a gorgeous DIL, a granddaughter and a wealth of friends.
I began working as a Registered Nurse early in 2001. I have worked in a number of areas including A&E, Oncology, HDU, Paediatrics & the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. I became a Fertility Nurse July 2011 after joining Flinders Fertility and have worked in this position for over 7 years.
I joined the FNA committee late 2018.
I’m married with 2 daughters aged 12 & 5, a West Highland Terrier, a Bearded Dragon & several fish.
I am a registered nurse and midwife English trained, I’ve worked as a Midwife/Immunisation Nurse/Sexual health nurse in both the metropolitan hospitals as well as remote areas throughout Australia and the pacific island/PNG.
Upon return to Perth 14 months ago I accepted a position in fertility and have found this to be an interesting and sometimes challenging role. I’m looking forward to gaining more knowledge and very excited to be part of the FNA team.
I started my nursing career in 1998 in a small country hospital in north west NSW and I began working in fertility 6 years ago when we moved to Canberra due to my husband having a midlife crisis – he decided to leave his job and study medicine!!
I really enjoy working in this area of nursing. I have three children who keep me very occupied outside of work.
I am a Registered Nurse & Midwife who has worked in both Adelaide and London.
I have been employed at Repromed for 15 years and find my role very rewarding.
I was the first non-European ESHRE accredited Fertility Nurse, after completing my course in Helsinki in 2016.
I am looking forward to my role as a FNA representative.
I started fertility nursing in 2008 at Sydney IVF/Genea in Kent st and spent 4 lovely years developing my knowledge and skills.
I then moved to rural NSW where there were no jobs in the industry, so busied myself by having a couple of children of my own.
We moved again in 2017, and I was very pleased to be able to get back into a job that I have a real passion for at Tas IVF in Launceston.
I love doing procedural things like follicle tracking ultrasounds and IUI’s. My main focus when dealing with our patients is making sure that they have all the knowledge they need to feel well informed, but I also believe in trying to make the journey less stressful with a bit of humour thrown in.
I Registered as a Comprehensive Nurse and started my Nursing Career in 1987 working in Womens Health.
I have been a Fertility Nurse for 13 years. Most of this has been in Auckland. I have also had 2.5 years of valuable experience in Brisbane.
Fertility Nurse Education is paramount. I want to help facilitate educational opportunities for New Zealand Fertility Nurses and Collegiality with our Australian Colleagues.
My priority out of work is Family. My favourite activities are going for long walks, jogging and going to music concerts.
I ‘fell’ into my reproductive nursing journey in London in 2001, working at The Lister Fertility Clinic. I went on to work for the next 11 years at both the Bridge Centre and lastly at CRM London. I was a member of the Senior Infertility Nurses Group (SING) in the UK.
After being successful in our own IVF journey at Fertility Associates Wellington, I now work part time as part of a great team and became one of the FNA reps for New Zealand in 2018