Bridget Roache
Midwife, Registered Nurse, Grad Dip: Child Birth Education, IBCLC©, Trainer: World Health Organization Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, Master of Science (Res).
My career began like that of many nurses and midwives of the late 1970s and 1980s, with initial registration achieved through hospital-based certification. Over the decades, I have worked predominantly in midwifery, both in Australia and the Middle East, across a wide range of settings — including public and private hospitals, multicultural environments, and private practice as a midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC©) during my time in the Middle East.
While in the Middle East, I developed and delivered education programs for doctors, nurses, and midwives preparing for the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE©) exam in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Between 2000 and 2005, the number of IBCLCs in the UAE grew from three to over 350, with a remarkable 98% pass rate among my predominantly non-English-speaking students. During this period, I also consulted with the World Health Organization on the Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding.
Following the success of the first group of IBLCE candidates, I founded the United Arab Emirates Lactation Consultants Association, serving as its first President and later being honoured as an Honorary Lifetime Member. In recognition of my contributions, I was awarded the IBLCE International Volunteer of the Year Award in 2001 and served as IBLCE Coordinator for the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar from 1999–2004, before being appointed Regional Director for the Asia Pacific and Africa regions in 2005.
Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to the principles of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and the WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. I have been actively involved with BFHI implementation across the Middle East and Queensland, serving as Queensland Chair and as a member of the national BFHI committee. I have also supported several hospitals across Queensland in achieving BFHI accreditation, and contributed to developing policy, guidelines, and governance frameworks at state and local levels to promote breastfeeding.
A significant personal milestone was completing a Master’s thesis on maternity reforms, which led to academic publication in my field. I have also authored a breastfeeding chapter in a national paediatric nursing textbook.
Since returning to Australia in 2008, I have continued to provide a comprehensive lactation education program through my business, Facts of Life™ Lactation Education, which meets the eligibility criteria for IBLCE© exam candidates. The success rate of participants remains consistently high. The program, along with an expanding suite of short courses, has now transitioned to a flexible online learning format to meet evolving educational needs.
In addition to my education and clinical roles, I have served as a Midwifery Lecturer, contributing to the development of future midwives through tertiary education, and as an Associate Director with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), supporting accreditation and governance processes that uphold the quality and integrity of nursing and midwifery education in Australia.
With a lifelong passion for advancing lactation education, midwifery practice, and maternal–infant health, I look forward to continuing to support professionals and candidates preparing for the IBLCE© examination and promoting evidence-based practice in breastfeeding and maternity care.