Wendy Dawson joined the Bridging the Gap research team in 2013 as the Program Facilitator. Bridging the Gap – funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council partnership grant with the aim to address refugee health inequalities and poorer health outcomes for both mothers and children through health service innovation spanning maternity hospitals and community based services. Prior to joining the Healthy Mothers Healthy Families research group, Wendy pursued her interest in intervention implementation to improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in a number of different roles. These included working with the Inner South East Primary Care Partnership and as Manager, Maternity Services in the Victorian Department of Health. Wendy was Manager, Innovation and Reform in the Council of Australian Governments' National Health Workforce Taskforce (NHWT), where she initiated and oversaw projects around Australia on workforce configurations, capacity and capability to support evidence informed practice. Prior to working in Government, Wendy worked at the Centre for the Study of Mothers' and Children's Health at La Trobe University; in Local Governments; and was Coordinator of the Western Region Centre for Working Women (visiting women with CALD backgrounds in factories throughout the West). She also worked in community development in St Kilda and established the Northcote Tenants Union. Wendy has a Bachelor of Business, Graduate Certificate in Health Economics and a Masters of Public Administration.

child health