Midwife Catherine Wade passing on her 45 years of experience to next generations

When Catherine Wade isn’t working, she’s out exploring new places or busy with her books and arts and crafts.

The self-proclaimed explorer enjoys jumping into her car and going on an adventure.

The mother-of-two is from a large family and describes her children as ”beautiful humans”.

“We have always had the philosophy that things will always work out exactly as they are supposed to,” Catherine said.

The registered nurse and midwife is the clinical midwifery educator and Indigenous liaison midwife at Deniliquin Hospital.

She is passionate about providing high-quality patient care to women in regional towns.

“We are focused on delivering patient-focused care and providing women with informed choices about their birthing journey,” she said.

“There is a continuity of care for the mother and baby, and so different to working on a ward and having designated shifts.”

Catherine knows the importance of sharing more than 45 years of experience as a nurse and a caseload midwife.

“A caseload midwife manages their own clients, with the backing of a hospital and obstetric supervision,” she said.

“You care for women from their very first appointment, all the way through their pregnancy, to the birth of their babies.

“It is wonderful because the woman has the opportunity to engage and liaise directly with the midwife and the approach is one more about partnerships.”

Catherine has managed busy UK hospital wards, assisted First Nations people in Cape York and spent six years in nursing in Tasmania instead of the planned 12 months.

As a clinical midwife educator at Deniliquin Hospital, Catherine supports and mentors other midwives.

“Primarily, it is about ensuring our midwives and nurses have not only the latest resources and training available but also a supportive person available to mentor them in their journey as a health professional,” Catherine said.

“I feel that as women, we sometimes forget to value that and support each other, and my role involves offering that advice, recognition and mentorship.”

Catherine said midwifery offered the opportunity to support future generations.

“One of the most rewarding things is being with women. As the Indigenous liaison midwife, I feel it is particularly important,” she said.

“A woman is central to raising the next generation, and it is because of her that we are here.

“I have made some lifelong friends along the way, all over the country and overseas, but now that I have settled in Deniliquin, I really have a soft spot for the people here.”

Catherine loves working and living in smaller rural communities and encourages metropolitan nurses to head to the regions.

“It is so vastly different to working in the bigger hospitals, where you sometimes get lost.”