Lael Ridgway
Room 308, George Singer Building, Bundoora Campus
Ph: +61 3 9479 5930
Fx: +61 3 9479 5988
Email: l.ridgway@latrobe.edu.au
Qualifications
RN, Midwife, IBCLC, PgDipAdvNsg (Child, Family and Community)
Background
Lael has many years experience working as a nurse in a variety of fields of nursing, including as a private consultant. Lael has postgraduate qualifications as a Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Maternal and Child Health Nurse. She commenced in her current role at La Trobe University in 2009, but has been involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing education since 2005.
Lael has been involved in many aspects of practice and policy development in Maternal and Child Health nursing and has recent experience as a Maternal and Child Health nurse in clinical practice in Victoria and the Northern Territory.
Areas of Teaching
- Maternal and Child Health
- Community Health
Research
Areas of Interest
- Infant mental health
- Lactation
- Information Technology
Current Research
- Computer Use and the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurse
Past Research
- ‘Social Attention and Communication Study' (SACS) 2007 (with Dr C. Dissanayake & J. Barbaro from La Trobe School of Psychology). The study was funded by a Telstra Community Development Grant and looked into prospective identification of autism in infancy.
Responsibilities within the Division
- Lecturer and Co-ordinator of Child Family and Community Health Nursing in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe University
Selected Publications
Conferences
2009
3rd National Association of Maternal, Child, Family and Community Nurses Conference
Nurses’ views on electronic health records used in the Victorian Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service
3rd National Association of Maternal, Child, Family and Community Nurses Conference
‘Prospectively identifying infants at risk of an ASD through the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service: Results from the Social Attention and Communication Study (SACS)’ (Barbaro, Dissanayake & Ridgway)
4th International Conference on Community Health Nursing Research
Use of information technology in primary health care: the views and experiences of nurses working in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service, Victoria, Australia
2008
1st National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference
Challenges for the Educator: Incorporating a Strengths-based Perspective into Child, Family and Community Nursing Studies
Other
Invited DVD reviews (in press) Australian Journal of Child and Family Health Nurses
‘Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Education Module’ (DVD)
Authors: Leo Donnan and Richard Angliss
‘Raising Children’ (DVD)
Authors: Raising Children Network 2008.
Professional Activities and Consultancies
2009 La Trobe University representative on ‘Maternal and Child Health Program Standards Working Party’ with DEECD/MAV
2007-8 La Trobe University representative on ‘Key Age and Stage Program Resource Guide Working Party’ with DEECD/MAV
2003 Member MCH SIG Issues Paper Reference Group
Exploration of Maternal and Child Health Nursing Practice in Victoria, Australia 2001-2003 Issues Paper: February 2004
2004 Invited Member Collaborative (DHS/MAV/MCH) Working Party addressing MCH issues with MAV and DHS representatives.
Professional Affiliations
- Australian Nursing Federation
- Nurses Memorial Centre
- Maternal and Child Health Special Interest Group