From crabbing in the shallows of Frenchman’s Bay to delivering babies across regional WA, Leeonie’s journey into midwifery is a story of resilience, passion, and a deep commitment to women in rural communities.
Leeonie grew up in Little Grove near Albany, WA, where life was shared with extended family on the same property. “We lived with my Nanna and Grandad, Aunty, Uncle and cousin – it was amazing,” she recalls. “The community felt like one big extended family. I played hockey for the local club, and everyone got along great. Most of our time was spent exploring the harbour, walking through the shallows between neighbours’ houses, and catching crabs with our cousins and friends.” She smiles as she remembers the big town celebrations, Australia Day and New Year’s Eve, when everyone came together on the main street to celebrate as a community.
Leeonie’s early education took her to eleven different schools after her family relocated to Perth. “Moving from a small community and a large property to a completely different world took some adjusting,” she says. Unfortunately, her high school years were marked by bullying, and she changed schools a few times to try and find the right fit. “It impacted my education, but I made the decision to repeat Year 12 so I could get the scores I needed to become a nurse.”
That dream started young, at around ten years old, and was rooted in her personal experiences. “I watched close family members endure horrible illnesses and hospital admissions. I wanted to help people the way the nurses helped those close to me,” she shares. “And I was named after a nurse who cared for my brother, maybe it was destiny in the name.”
Her passion for babies and motherhood grew alongside her desire to become a nurse. “I was always fascinated by pregnancy and how our bodies can grow an entire human, it’s just so special,” she says. During a maternity placement over the ANZAC Day weekend in 2009, everything changed. “It was a very complicated birth, but the midwife stayed so calm and made such a difference in what could have been a really traumatic experience. That moment stuck with me and I knew midwifery was where I was meant to be.”
It took years of persistence, seven years of university, countless assignments, and balancing work with motherhood. “I worked in aged care while studying nursing, completed a graduate program at Sir Charles Gairdner in gastroenterology and transplant units, and worked in the high dependency unit to build up my skills before going into midwifery,” Leeonie explains. She was awarded a scholarship to study midwifery through St John of God Murdoch and Curtin University, where she could work and study within the same obstetrics unit. “That helped consolidate everything I was learning.”
By then, Leeonie was raising a young family of her own. “I was pregnant during my first year of uni, doing assignments while up with a baby, taking her to class with me. I sat a three-hour exam when she was four weeks old,” she says. “I was determined to make it work.”
After years of clinical work, Leeonie became a Clinical Midwife at Fiona Stanley Hospital, working in the birthing suite, postnatal ward, and maternal-fetal assessment unit. She also spent a year in the Family Birth Centre before stepping into her latest role as an Endorsed Midwife, running her own midwifery practice.
The idea for the practice began while she was still studying. “I could see how hard it was for women in rural areas to access midwifery-led care. I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing if women didn’t have to leave their homes or travel long distances, but could still get personalised, high-quality care?” That vision stayed with her. “I wanted to make my daughters proud and show them that if you work hard enough, dreams really do come true.”
Meeting her partner, who lives in the Wheatbelt, helped align the personal and professional. “I was already travelling between Dalwallinu and Perth and I knew it was the right time to make it happen.”
That moment of alignment gave rise to Lovelee Maternity, Leeonie’s own midwifery service offering comprehensive, autonomous antenatal and postnatal care to the lower Midwest and central Wheatbelt. Through Lovelee Maternity, Leeonie brings care directly into women’s homes, eliminating the stress of long drives and offering flexible appointments, including weekends and after-hours. Her service includes diagnostic testing, ultrasounds, prescribing medications, and providing in-home support to ensure that every woman she supports feels informed, empowered, and cared for.
Leeonie now provides antenatal and postnatal care in women’s homes, a model built on continuity, trust and community. “I know how stressful pregnancy can be, especially when you’re isolated. I want mums to feel safe, supported and empowered. The women I work with know they can call me any time, day or night, and I’m there for anything, big or small.”
Appointments at home also mean the whole family can be involved, which helps build stronger connections. “Regional mums deserve the same level of care as anyone in the city and I love that I get to be the one to provide it.”
Even after thousands of births, the magic never fades. “I still get teary every time,” Leeonie laughs. “There are so many standout moments, but I’ll never forget delivering a baby in the front seat of a car outside the hospital. The dad was lost and kept calling for directions, and I could hear in the mum’s voice that we didn’t have much time. I sprinted with a towel and gloves and got there just in time. The engine was still running and seconds later, baby was born. It was surreal but such an incredible reminder of why I do this.”
While the rewards are many, rural midwifery also comes with its challenges. “Getting blood test results can take days, depending on where I am. You have to adapt constantly. But I love finding solutions, it keeps me growing and improving.” She laughs about some of the lessons she’s learned. “Take extra batteries. And get more data on your phone plan, trust me.”
Looking ahead, Leeonie hopes to expand her service to more communities across the Wheatbelt and beyond. “I want women to know this kind of care is possible, and that they deserve it. I’d love to see more midwives offering this model of care in regional areas, and for it to be normal to receive support in your own home.”
Outside of work, Leeonie finds balance in family, nature and adventure. “I love spending time with my daughters and stepdaughters, going off-grid with my partner, camping, fishing, anything outdoors. I love to move, to learn new things, and to experience life from different perspectives. It keeps me grounded and inspired.”
And what’s her guiding belief? “I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do believe everything happens for a reason. Trust your gut. That intuition has never let me down, especially in this work.”
If she could trade jobs for a day? “Easy,” she laughs. “Professional food taster. Getting paid to eat all day? That’s the dream.”