Trudy Hart

• 2011 sat IBCLC exams and passed
• 2016 recertified with cerps and audit
• 2021 recertified with exams again.
• Best job in the world, so satisfying helping whanau nurture their pepi in the most optimal way.

• I held the position of Hospital Lactation Consultant for some years and also worked for a year as Community Lactation Consultant. For some of this time I was relieving the incumbent Hospital Lactation Consultant who was suffering a long term illness. I also provided short term locum care in the community off and on.
• Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems. I completed an audit of hospital readmits and discovered all were because babies had undiagnosed Tethered Oral Tissue so initiated improved assessment and treatment programmes through education and service development.
• I identified that the Taupo region was receiving no Lactation support services so initiated a weekly service there that was later further developed to a full time position.
• Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities with Planning and Funding and Population Health departments to strengthen and develop the service from one IBCLC to several and developing a communtiy Lactation service for Lakes.
• Improved operations through consistent hard work and dedication. I loved this work, felt well supported by this DHB and worked in a very cohesive and happy team throughout the service. I never left work with anyone still requiring care, no matter the day or time and answered my service phone 24/7.

When I left Dentistry to have my 4 children I was interested in learning about natural health remedies to keep my family healthy. So I studied:

• Homeobotanical therapies - herbalism, rongoa, homeopathy, minerals.
• Clinical Nutrition - use of nutrients to correct deficiencies and heal.
• Body work - Touch for Health, kinesiology, massage, Reiki, energy healing, holistic pulsing, mirimiri.
• Chinese and Ayuvedic modalities.
• Microbiome studies, with extensions into epigenetics, breastfeeding and birthing.
• Womens Health studies
• I have been a member of the Homeobotanical Institute, classified as a Senior Fellow and have presented at Naturopathic conferences, usually around breastfeeding.

• I have been an NZLCA member for at least 20 years, have attended most NZLCA conferences and workshops throughout that time.
• Have presented at NZLCA conferences.
• Was an NZLCA Board member for 4 years 2014 to 2018 holding the position of secretary and Special Projects Officer.
• 2018 and 2019 I answered the 0800 phone assisting women with breastfeeding issues and accessing IBCLC care.

I have supported the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative since its inception in Aoteaora.

• As a BFHI Auditor I have assessed almost all of the tertiary facilities and many of the secondary and primary facilities since 2003.
• I am also a Baby Friendly Community Assessor though sadly this initiative has not been properly developed in Aotearoa.
• I led a group of consumers and midwives that actively promoted the development of Tauranga Maternity as a BFHI qualified facility, at a time when the management was very resistant. We organised all the community meetings and asked the Maternity manager to chair the meetings to get her to attend and be educated...

• I was a Home Birth Aotearoa and La Leche League NZ consumer Board Rep for 20 years.
• I served on the Finance and Governance Committees for 5 years.
• I was a Midwifery Standards Reviewer and a First Year of Practice Reviewer for 20 years reviewing midwives for their practicing certificates throughout the Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and Waikato.
• In this role I completed 4 Te Tiriti o Waitangi workshops and 3 Turanga Kaupapa workshops with Henare and Tungane Kani.
• I thoroughly enjoyed these roles because of the opportunities to improve the care of wahine, pepi and whanau and to develop their autonomy in the relationship/partnership.
• I have been fortunate to have attended most NZCOM conferences and Research Forums throughout these two decades, learning so much.

• I have been a La Leche League member since 1992.
• Began as a Leader Applicant in 1996 and became a Leader in 1998.
• This work is purely voluntary and I strongly believe money should not come between a baby and the breast. A LLLNZ Leader is available 24/7 to support other mothers to breastfeed and parent, via in home, phone or email counselling. We also have regular support meetings, maintain libraries for parents and run regular workshops.
• During 2001 and 2002 I was sole Leader for Tauranga, during this time I developed two new groups in Katikati and Mt Maunganui/Papamoa, running 3 group meetings a month and greatly lifting the profile of LLL in the Bay of Plenty, as well as providing a 24/7 breastfeeding support service for the greater Bay of Plenty. I also completed many fundraising applications to support group activities and education.
• For six years I was Area Coordinator of Professional Liaison for LLLNZ Area 2, have continued providing Professional Liaison within my area.
• I had 4 years as Area 2’s LLLNZ Board representative.
• I continue to work as a La Leche League Leader in the Bay of Plenty and for many years have been among the Leaders with the highest numbers of annual counseling contacts within the community for the whole of New Zealand. I have supported families from Opotiki to Coromandel and down to Turangi.
• 2009 organised and completed a Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor Programme 40 hr course. Unfortunately funding wasn't sustained to enable the trained peer counselor's to continue their work with the various Maori Health Provider organisations represented. I have continued to promote this ethos and believe we will never have a true breastfeeding culture in Aotearoa without grassroots education and peer support groups in every cultural group as well as tangata whenua.
• I have attended and presented at LLLNZ conferences and workshops regularly.

• Provided Childbirth Education classes for Trust Home Birth Tauranga, Katikati Resource Centre and Waihi Resource Centre, in partnership with another educator. My specialties being breastfeeding and parenting, health and nutrition, water birth and oral health.
• Maintained an educational library and routine class evaluations.
• IMAC Immunisation Promotion Education course completed May 2012

• I have written breastfeeding/parenting/health articles for Birthspirit Journal (NZ), Healthy Options, Byronchild (Australia), Midwifery News, Mothering (USA), LLL publications and Kiwi Parent.
• I co-wrote chapter 11 on Bonding and Attachment, in the Australia/NZ Elsevier Midwifery Textbook published September 2010.
• Proofread copy written by colleagues to correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Assisted with protocol and practice guidance writing for NZCOM

I homeschooled my 4 children for 5 years then when Te Puna Primary was developed as a Whole Brain Learning school by Mike Scaddan, we joined as my educational philosophy was along similar lines. I stood for the Board of Trustees and for 6 years held various roles, treasurer, secretary and chairperson. A great experience and lots of valuable learning.

• Worked as a School Dental Therapist at Greerton Primary, Tauranga Primary, Katikati Primary for first 5 years then initiated the first mobile service, caring for all the schools on the coast from Paengaroa and Maketu to Paroa at Whakatane.
• Achieved two merit performance gradings but was most proud that I had built a sound and happy relationship with all the children I encountered at these schools and made a difference for life in terms of their oral health.
• I introduced consent forms so that parents had full information about the services provided for their children before such things existed, which was contra to current job specifications and prior to the Cartwright Report, but I felt it was important, as did many of the parents.

Prior to leaving school and whilst training I worked as a babysitter, nanny, shearers rousie, farm labourer, cleaner, veterinary assistant and doctors receptionist.