Cheryl Hawkins – Nurse-Midwife

Cheryl Hawkins is a Women’s Health Educator with over 30 years’ as an experienced Nurse/Midwife working in a variety of settings, especially rural and remote locations as a Mobile Women’s Health Nurse.  Cheryl has comprehensive knowledge of direct patient care, outreach service programs and nursing procedures.  She has a passion to empower women to make informed decisions about their health. Cheryl’s experience in health care delivery along with her strong background in a diverse range of Women’s health, acute, maternity, community, rural, breast care and sexual health areas enables her to easily build rapport with women and help them to manage their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Kirsty Porteous – Nurse-Midwife

Kirsty is a Women’s Health Educator with a 30-year career spanning nursing, midwifery, counselling and education. She has worked with women of all ages and at all stages of life in health, community and counselling settings. She enjoys helping women manage their physical and emotional wellbeing, and to improve their health, lifestyle and confidence.

Aleesha McCarthy - Special Projects Officer (Regional)

Aleesha is an Accredited Counsellor, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner registered with the Dept of Justice and Attorney General and has over eight years’ experience working with women, families, and children in the domestic and family violence prevention, intervention and postvention space in North Queensland. Aleesha's experience ranges from case management, counselling and crisis intervention to working therapeutically with individuals, families, and children. Aleesha specialises in the areas of grief and loss, children’s counselling and family counselling as well as working with women and children escaping domestic and family violence.  

Aleesha has demonstrated experience in facilitating complex family mediations and developing child-focused parenting plans. Aleesha is passionate about working with parents to develop and improve their co-parenting relationship throughout the mediation process.

Aleesha also holds qualifications in training and assessment and has experience providing education and training on domestic and family violence and teaching community service programs at a Diploma and Graduate Diploma level, in the Vocational Education and Training Sector.

Candice Kessell – Administration Officer

Candice has been with the Women’s Health team for five years. She has a strong background in administration and has over 13 years’ experience in various roles. Candice is currently studying a Certificate IV in Administration and Finance, and has qualifications in hospitality and tourism.