IAIM Australia Committee Members

Meet your current IAIM committee members. The profiles below show that we come from a diverse range of backgrounds but all share a common passion to promote the benefits of infant massage through the work of the IAIM. If you’d like to join us please get in touch!

Interested in joining IAIM Australia? Click here to fill in a membership form, it costs just $100 for a Full Membership and $60 for an Associate Membership.

Profiles of a sample of our committee members are shown below. For more information on the specific responsibilities associated with each role please click the link - Infant Massage Committee Role Descriptions.

President: Danielle Forde

Personal History:

I am married to an Irishman, Ciaran and have a 16month old boy, Darragh. We are expecting our second baby in early January.

My professional career has included over 12 years as an operations executive in 5 star hotels in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, along with a stint in the UK.

In the early 2000's I spent a number of years as a Business Development and Account Management consultant in the corporate learning and development industry. More recently my interest in personal development and particularly touch therapy has included qualifying and practising as a Massage Therapist, specialising in Ka Huna Bodywork, Holistic (Swedish) Massage and of course, Infant Massage.

I completed my training in Ireland in 2006, then had a baby and qualified as an Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) in August 2007 through the Irish Chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage.

Vice President: Glenda Chapman

I live on Central Coast, New South Wales where I run a family-centred Remedial Massage practice.

I'm a retired avid squash player, and spend most of my spare time enjoying ‘family time' with my husband Terry, three grown children, their partners, and five grandchildren.

I became a Certified Infant Massage Instructor in June 1995 and have been a Trainer of Instructors since September 2003 training IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructors throughout Australia and South East Asia. For details of upcoming courses see Infant Massage Instructor Training.

Education officer: Marg Tanner

One of my key roles is to organise the annual conference with my team. I live in Lane Cove NSW and am: an IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI); a Paediatric Nurse; a Midwife; a Masseuse; a Massage In Schools Programme (MISP) instructor; a Mother of 4 great adult kids; and a University Nursing Facilitator and Lecturer. I have a Masters in Education and degrees in Child & Adolescent Mental Health, Community Child and Family Nursing. I hold a Train the Trainer certificate to train CIMIs.

I trained some years ago as CIMI and it is the best thing I ever did ( apart from having my own kids of course)! I like research in health issues and love encouraging others into the fabulous field of Infant Massage. I ran a workshop on infant massage research at the International IAIM Conference in Denver in October 2008; if you are interested in this please feel free to contact us.

Treasurer & International Representative: Bonita Stockley

In 2004 I was introduced to Glenda Chapman and Infant Massage, and became Glenda's first IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) to train and qualify in Adelaide.

I joined the IAIM committee as State Rep for South Australia in 2005, State Rep and Treasurer 2006, Treasurer in 2007, and International Rep and Treasurer 2008.

Working as a CIMI has enabled me to meet extraordinary people and has been immensely rewarding.

I live with four fabulous men: one husband, two adult sons and one teenage son. I have learnt that in most things less is more … except when you're cooking for four hungry men.

Web site secretary: Rachel Jessop

My name is Rachel and I live in Dee Why on the northern beaches of Sydney. Originally from England, I have lived in Australia for the last 9 years and love living by the beach. I became a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) in January 2008 and am also Website Secretary for the IAIM.

Succeeding in making my passion into a job that I can balance with a hectic life running around after my two young daughters, Lotte and Mika, is fantastic.

Even though they are no longer babies, I still massage the girls on a regular basis. Taking time-out from the every day pressures is essential as it enables me to re-connect with my children and we have many precious moments.

Membership Officer: Janice Peak

In 1998 I did a Diploma in Remedial Massage and from there had a dream to teach parents how to massage their babies. In November 2007 my position as an Admin Assistant with a large pharmaceutical company become redundant so I decided to follow my dream and became an IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) in June 2008.

Recently I taught my daughter how to massage her 4 month old twins, they love it after their bath time, and I look forward to teaching more parents.

I belong to a patchwork group and we make quilts for a women's refuge as well as our own quilts. We have a lot fun making these quilts and learning new sewing skills.

Singing is something I really enjoy and I have sung in Chorus Oz performing Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Messiah. Both were performed in the Opera House.

I volunteered for the role of Membership Officer to help the IAIM as I feel it would not only help me to learn about the association but I could meet other CIMI's and help the association.

Membership Officer Assistant: Christine Jervis

Personal History:

I was lucky to start my life in paradise (tropical North Queensland – Cairns) which helped develop my love of all things aquatic and living a healthy, balanced and relaxed lifestyle. In my younger years, I spent a huge amount of time swimming and competed at all levels in the sport. I hung my swimmers up in 2000 and completed my degree in Journalism and Sports Studies (Human Movement Studies) in Brisbane.

My husband and I then returned back to Cairns, where I worked as a photographer specialising in family and children's portraiture whilst undergoing business management training and doing further photography study. In 2004 I started my own massage business and began teaching swimming (and thus obtained all the relevant qualifications to do so).

I have since upgraded my massage qualifications to a Diploma in Remedial Massage, have done further study to specialise in pregnancy massage, infant massage (2007) and sports massage (one highlight of which includes treating the winning 2008 Qld State of Origin Team) and I expanded my business to offer water massage/aquatic movement and swimming, especially for infants/toddlers. In all I do, the mission of my working life and business is "to provide the highest quality professional service every time".

Why infant massage and why the IAIM?

I originally thought teaching infant massage was just a beautiful thing to follow on from pregnancy massage and would be another thing I could offer before babies start swimming with me (at 6-8 weeks of age). However the IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor course opened up a whole new world for me – there is so much more to our work than just the strokes and of course, any time and any age is a magic time for massage!

What I want to achieve in 2008/2009 for IAIM Australia:

• Learn more about how the IAIM committee operates so that I can use my time to contribute in a more effective manner
• Do all I can to help assist and support the Membership Officer
• Create new professional relationships and improve my networking skills with fellow IAIM CIMIs
• Promote the IAIM and help raise greater awareness about the benefits of infant massage

Newsletter editor: Veronica Johnston

My name is Veronica; I am married to a wonderful man, Matt and am a mum (the most important and treasured positions in my life) to three gorgeous children: Grace (9), Rowan (3) and Eden (10 months).

I have been a remedial massage therapist for the past 12 years, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Over the past 8 years I had seen many ads for learning infant massage instruction, and after putting the course on my ‘must do’ list for the same number of years finally researched the best course to take, choose the IAIM, and became a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) in August 2007.

I knew that the IAIM CIMI course was definitely for me as I had experienced the many benefits of infant massage with my own children, what I hadn’t expected was to feel so passionate about passing on this knowledge to parents and caregivers so that they too could feel the same passion towards this wonderful activity that they can share with their children.

Now I am serving on the committee for the IAIM Australia, as newsletter editor, and hope that I can do this position justice in helping to bring our members the latest news and updates from this wonderful organisation.

State Representative for Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Alice Campbell

My name is Alice. I’m a Registered Nurse, and have spent most of my career working with ‘at-risk’ children and families in remote and rural communities in Australia, and also overseas. My current roles include: lecturing in nursing and welfare, project development in child protection, and I still do the occasional bit of 'hands on' nursing! I'm currently undertaking postgraduate studies focusing on infant mental health and attachment and bonding in difficult circumstances.

Since becoming an IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor in 2008, I have been running infant massage courses with a number of community and government organisations in Canberra for families affected by: drug and alcohol use; domestic violence; imprisonment; and other issues.

As the IAIM State Representative for ACT, I am keen to help raise the profile of infant massage, and of the work of the IAIM. I would love to here from any CIMIs (past and present) and also anyone interested in infant massage and can be contacted via our contact us form.

General Support: Kay White

My name is Kay. I have a rather 'mixed bag' background as a teacher, teacher-trainer, grazier and as a Remedial Massage Therapist. I now divide my time between massage therapy, work as an International Trainer for the 'Massage in Schools Program' and, of course, teaching infant massage as an IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor. I qualified as a CIMI in 2006.

I would love to be able to provide services to young mums and those considered 'at risk', and am planning to put more energy into this side of my infant massage work.

General Support: Rhiannah Venetsanos

My name is Rhiannah. I am a: Mother, Massage therapist, Photographer, IAIM Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI), and a Massage In Schools Program (MISP) Instructor.

My work has always gravitated around children. I have enjoyed being a dance teacher for 3-5 year olds, and in recent times a remedial and pregnancy massage therapist, a CIMI, and a photographer specialising in newborns.

My most important and rewarding (and sometimes challenging!) work has come from being a mother. It is from this that I draw wisdom and inspiration, and it drives everything else that I do.