She/Her

I am a Nurse Practitioner and midwife working in the speciality women’s health clinics at the Royal Women’s Hospital. I see women with a range of complex issues including chronic pelvic pain, vulva disorders and women who have experienced female genital mutilation.

I have been a Job Rep since 2006, and a Branch Councillor since 2018 before joining Branch Executive a year later.

At the end of my schooling I was accepted into Melbourne University to study Agricultural Science and St Vincent’s Public Hospital to become a nurse. My sister-in-law (from a farming family and farming with my brother) advised me to follow two of my siblings – one a nurse and the other a midwife. She thought I would have more career opportunities as a nurse. I loved nursing from the beginning: my colleagues, the learning and especially the patients. I was still yearning to live in the country (and I love babies) and became a midwife. I never did get to live in the country but I loved being a midwife (lots of babies).

Having grown up in a strong union family, I joined the ANMF as a student nurse. I became a delegate as I believed in supporting my colleagues in the rough times. I could see that caring for up  to 10 patients each shift was overwhelming and our working conditions needed to be improved. We are professionals and deserve to be respected and paid accordingly. I have seen the power of ‘working together’ to improve conditions and better pay.

Over 40 years, I’ve seen the increasing complexity of patient care. We need to ensure that the government and employers respect our professions, which requires a strong ANMF.

Every member matters. As a champion of awareness, empathy and fairness I’ll listen to members. And if re-elected, I will continue to stand for justice and fearless leadership and that’s why I am asking you to vote for the Maddy Harradence Team.