CQUniversity is pleased to announce that it will be hosting one of Australia's leading advocates for Indigenous health awareness.

Monash University PhD candidate Catherine Chamberlain will be presenting at CQUniversity's Rockhampton campus on the prevalence of gestational diabetes amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women on Monday, 18 June from 1-4pm.

"I am working with services to try to improve screening and treatment for women and to try and stop or manage better the progression from diabetes in pregnancy through to Type 2 diabetes" said Chamberlain.

"This might involve greater access to diabetes counselling in pregnancy and at discharge after the birth of the baby".  

Link HERE for more details

Catherine is a descendant of the Trawlwoolway people of Tasmania with experience in the Victorian Department of Health, the Australian Cochrane Centre, Kimberley Health Service, Royal Flying Doctors Service, the Royal Women's Hospital Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

Monash University PhD candidate Catherine Chamberlain 

Catherine is regarded as a health activist who is a founding member of the People's Health Movement (PHM) in Victoria, and has been internationally active in Doctors Without Borders in Somalia (1995) and Sudan (1996), plus many other areas.

"It is wonderful that we as a region are benefiting from a visit by someone with this level of experience and expertise. I will also be taking Catherine around to visit some of the local organisations working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people" said Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement).

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) affects the pregnancies of approximately 8% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, more than double the rate among any other Australian sub-population.