Local teacher and founder of Maternity Consumer Network, Alecia Staines, is thrilled to announce her candidacy for the local council elections in 2024.
With a strong commitment to the community and a proven track record of leadership and advocacy, Alecia is poised to bring a fresh perspective with proven results to Noosa Shire Council.
Alecia spent her early teaching career during her rural service in the border town of Goondiwindi, where she collaborated with local agricultural industry to develop a “grow your own workforce strategy” with local farmers.
“This was the first of its kind in the state. What we were doing inside the school gate wasn’t necessarily transferring to the skillset farmers needed, so we all sat down at the table and developed a solution to their workforce needs, whilst also getting kids to develop a real appreciation for the agriculture sector,” Alecia said.
“It was a highlight of my early teaching career, after growing up on a farm and spending school holidays driving tractors and helping my grandparents in the wool shed at shearing time.“
After becoming a mum and realising the lack of maternity services needed a spotlight, she founded the national organisation, Maternity Consumer Network.
It now has 1200 members, provides hospital training for maternity staff, campaigns for better maternity services and provides strategic advice to all levels of government.
“Our most recent campaign was in Queensland, where we campaigned for rural maternity services,“ Alecia said.
“This was one of our most successful efforts with the Queensland Health Minister dedicating $42 million to rural maternity services this year.”
Working for the community and getting the best results for them is something Alecia can hang her hat on, having also set up a federal Parliamentary Friends of Maternal Health with Wide Bay Federal MP, Llew O’Brien, as a co-chair a few months ago.
Since moving to Noosa Shire, Alecia has grown her family and had several of her children here, who attend local schools and kindy.
“We are spoilt for choice in this shire. From small schools, private and less conventional education styles, as a teacher, I am impressed,” Alecia said.
On weekends you’ll find her sitting field-side during the rugby season watching her eldest son play for Noosa Dolphins.
Alecia has spent the best part of this year talking to community and community groups about what they want for their Shire.
“I believe proper community consultation needs to be done fairly and all stakeholders should have an equal voice. I will represent all sections of the community,“ she said.
Meet Alecia at her upcoming campaign lunch with a side of social good, helping Santa’s Classy Helpers.
This event will feature a panel discussion on Raising Tomorrow’s Leaders with guests: the inspirational Loraine Kenway, founder of Santa’s Classy Helpers, Llew O’Brien, Federal MP for Wide Bay, and Sophia Li, millennial and federal Senate candidate.
Don’t miss the event on 21 November at the stunning Sanctuary at Acres in Noosa from 11.30am-1.30pm.
For tickets, visit trybooking.com/events/landing/1133934
