Tracey Gilchrist’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to improving healthcare for women in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Born in Singapore in 1990 to a Eurasian mother and Scottish father, Tracey’s journey began with a significant move in 1970. Her family migrated to Australia and settled in the Pilbara mining towns of Port Hedland and Newman, where her father, an engineer, worked for BP.
After completing high school, Tracey moved to Perth in 1988 to pursue her studies at Edith Cowan University (ECU), where she completed a Diploma of Health Science in 1990 and a Bachelor of Nursing in 1994 at the now-defunct Churchland campus. Upon graduation, she worked in several metropolitan hospitals in Perth, gaining invaluable experience in the healthcare field.
In 1999, Tracey decided to take an unexpected turn in her career. She secured a role with Ansett Australia as a domestic cabin crew member. At the time, the aviation industry was booming, and Tracey embraced the opportunity to travel and explore different parts of Australia. One of the highlights of her aviation career was being based in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics, where she learned the ins and outs of delivering exceptional customer service at 36,000 feet. This experience, Tracey believes, was instrumental in shaping her career path.
While working for Ansett, she also began studying a Bachelor of Security Science at ECU’s Joondalup campus, balancing her studies with her busy aviation career.
Tracey’s aviation career came to an abrupt end just days after the events of September 11th, 2001, when Ansett Airlines collapsed. Over 17,500 employees, including Tracey, lost their jobs overnight. While the tragic events in New York were undoubtedly the focus of the world, the collapse of an Australian icon like Ansett had a profound effect on the country’s aviation industry.
With mortgage commitments and no job to return to, Tracey returned to nursing, taking a position at a drug and alcohol centre in Chippendale, Sydney. However, after Ansett’s liquidation in 2004, Tracey moved back to Perth and shifted her focus to a career in health once again.
In 2004, Tracey began working as a registered nurse in a busy emergency department in Perth. While she gained invaluable clinical experience, it was not the path she envisioned for herself long-term. In 2005, at the age of 36, Tracey decided to pursue midwifery. She enrolled at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup and began her studies. Looking back, she acknowledges that her understanding of midwifery was initially quite naive.
The year was intense and challenging as she balanced work, study, and a drastically reduced income. “I don’t know of any other profession that would allow that to happen,” she reflects. Despite the challenges, Tracey was inspired by her clinical instructor, Karen, who told her on the first day that she would be “ten times the woman she originally was” after completing her studies. “I hope that I’ve proven her right,” says Tracey, proudly.
Tracey’s career took another significant turn when she decided to work in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. What was initially meant to be a one-month stint helping out in a government healthcare setting turned into a 16-year-long journey. Today, Tracey is based in Broome, working as a midwife and lactation consultant in private practice.
She vividly recalls her first birth as a student midwife at a large, busy maternity hospital, and it was in the post-birth period that Tracey found her true passion. Three years after graduating, she furthered her qualifications by becoming an internationally certified lactation consultant.
Living in the Kimberley has allowed Tracey to provide essential pregnancy, labour, and post-birth support to many women and families. The lack of resources and isolation in remote regions like Broome has made this work even more critical. “The isolation, particularly for families, can be overwhelming,” Tracey explains. “I felt compelled to try and do better.”
In 2021, Tracey completed her Masters of Primary Maternity Care and became an endorsed midwife. With the support of her former clinical supervisor and a local GP, she opened her own clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. As far as she knows, Tracey is the only private practicing maternity care provider in the Kimberley region.
However, building her practice wasn’t without challenges. She had to earn the trust and respect of her colleagues, many of whom were initially wary about her independent approach to maternity care. “There were many challenges, but I was determined to make it work,” Tracey says.
Her journey hasn’t always been easy, but Tracey is proud of the work she is doing to help support women and their families during life’s most transformative moments. “Instead of being disillusioned and overworked, I’m now able to assist women and their partners with evidence-based, professional support throughout their maternity journey,” she says.
Tracey Gilchrist’s story is one of overcoming adversity, embracing change, and making a significant impact in the lives of women and families in remote parts of Australia. She is a true example of resilience and dedication to her profession and community.