Monique is recognised as a powerhouse volunteer patient advocate and received the 2022 Local Hero SA and the 2022 Joy Noble Medal.
Originally trained as an orchestral musician, teacher, and manager, at 37, her life was unexpectedly turned upside-down by a cancer diagnosis. Her treatment left her with severe early-stage lymphoedema and unable to return to work.
Realising South Australia was the only state without a compression garment subsidy, she became President of the Lymphoedema Association SA Inc. and lobbied for equitable, affordable access to lymphoedema care and garments. Her efforts led to a South Australian Lymphoedema Compression Garment Subsidy Scheme and advances in public lymphoedema care.
Monique maintains strong connections with the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer and the Flinders Lymphoedema Clinical Research Unit contributing to research projects. Passionate about promoting the inclusion of the patient perspective in all aspects of health care and research, Monique participates in conferences and contributes to peer-reviewed journals.
Monique is recognised as the go-person for consumers affected by lymphoedema and is the ‘Consumer Advocate’ on the SA Health Lymphoedema Compression Garment Subsidy Scheme Advisory Group. Monique also contributed to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Lymphoedema scoping report due for completion soon.
Monique continues to work to effect lymphoedema care policy change at a state and National level.