Megan is a descendent of the Gubbi Gubbi/Wakka Wakka clans. She is on the steering committee for perinatal mental health (First Nations) and a study tutor for First Nations ACU students. Megan has a portfolio to better improve care across the birth continuum for all First Nations women. She initially developed plaques that are in each area of the hospital acknowledging the traditional owners and a plaque for their neonates who are born on country to assist in making families feel connected to culture and a sense of community.
Evidence shows that families should have access to a First Nations midwife so Megan strongly advocates to care for all First Nations families who access Dalby for their antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. She initiated a discussion between Queensland Health and the local Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) to secure a space at the AMS for women’s appointments, as well as other family members where required for care.
Megan educates and supports fellow staff in practicing in a culturally safe way and leads by example when communicating with not only First Nations families but all families.
She believes her work positively contributes to First Nations nursing and midwifery by setting a high standard of the expectation of care for their First Nations families.
"I was part of assisting and implementing the Midwifery Group Practice program in Far North Queensland. I was really happy for the women of the Cape. It took a while to build trust, it’s not my mob so I was a guest until I earned respect. There are so many stories and the women up there come in and share a meal with you or just share a yarn or say ‘I’m going down for a fish, do you want to come with us?’ That really brought me back in touch with culture because I was a little bit, I would say, disconnected from culture at that point so they really reminded me of the little things and the importance of trusting in spirit. You know, we’re very in tune with the land and country and how important that is for our spirit and our souls essentially. Idon’t care about the hours, the extra calls or what others would consider silly little texts if that’s what I must do to make sure our mob is looked after.”