The inspiring women who are paving the way for better healthcare

Across the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS), women in scientific roles are helping improve the health and wellbeing of WA children and young people.

Dr Cayla Bellagarda

At Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Senior Research Psychologist Dr Cayla Bellagarda has been leading a review of paediatric mental health services, notable among them an evaluation of its statewide emergency crisis service, CAMHS Crisis Connect.

“Our goal was to measure the impact of CAMHS Crisis Connect; to see if it was making a real difference – and if so – how much of a difference," Cayla explains.

The findings of that evaluation – currently under review in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry – highlight its value for young people experiencing a mental health crisis, and their families.

Cayla’s research examined the impact of the service since 2021, when it commenced in its current form providing several core functions – over-the-phone advice and triage, referral, admission co-ordination and brief interventions.

“What we found was that there was a significant reduction in children admitted to emergency departments for mental health concerns, and also fewer re-presentations to hospital,” she said.

“This suggests that Crisis Connect has provided important support outside of hospital for children in crisis.”

While Cayla hopes to expand on this evidence, she is now turning her focus to CAMHS’ Acute Care Response Team, with an evaluation of other acute and crisis care services at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH), to follow.

Her broad goal is to embed research into CAMHS mental health services, a measure she says will help ensure their ongoing effectiveness.

Cayla originally studied history, before moving to psychology in her second year. She graduated with a degree in psychology, before completing her PhD and Master of Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Western Australia.

Cayla says she has always been fascinated by how things work and in how people work, especially “how different brains work in different ways”.

What draws her to science, she says, is its pursuit of the ‘why’.

“It creates opportunities to change the world,” she says.

“Including outcomes for children”.

Dr Hetal Dholaria

At PCH, Dr Hetal Dholaria, a paediatric and adolescent oncologist, is helping children with rare and hard-to-treat tumours through innovative and groundbreaking research.

She spends part of her week diagnosing and treating complex cancers at PCH, while also working as a clinician-researcher at The Kids Institute Australia’s Cancer Centre, focusing on clinical and preclinical research for rare childhood cancers.

“Collaborating internationally, I seek to develop newer, more effective, and less toxic treatments for children with these rare and complex tumours,” she explains.

“These tumours don’t have well established standards of care so this research is vital for bringing better treatment options to WA for our children and their families, and for improving the children’s long-term outcomes.”

Hetal reveals she was always drawn to science because of its power to answer complex questions and bring tangible change to people’s lives.

She says medicine ‘where curiosity meets compassion’ held a particular fascination.

Today, Hetal considers herself privileged to work as a paediatric oncologist.

“I get to combine scientific discovery with patient care and bring hope to children and their families,” she says.

“What I love most about science is its constant evolution.

“Every breakthrough, no matter how small, has the potential to change lives.”

Jodi Renshaw-Todd

Child and Adolescent Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Jodi Renshaw-Todd was still a junior nurse when she learnt first-hand the potential of science to bring about change.

“I was frustrated by an element of clinical practice that was being done ineffectively due to an outdated policy,” she recalls.

“But it wasn’t changing because nobody on the busy ward had time to collect the evidence needed to show that.”

So Jodi undertook a small project, collecting the evidence herself.

“It led to a simple fix – the use of a different dressing,” she recalls.

“But it had so many positive outcomes for the patients and staff, and it was more cost effective for the service.”

“The project really sparked my interest in using scientific evidence to question, evaluate and improve practice and I have been involved intermittently in research projects ever since.”

Jodi’s latest scientific endeavour is tackling a much bigger challenge – supporting new parents who are having difficulty establishing close bonds with their infants.

Building on her expertise in perinatal and infant mental health, she is undertaking a PhD exploring the introduction of an intervention that will support parents to establish nurturing relationships with their infants in the child’s early years.

“The early relationships children form with caregivers can impact physical and mental health, educational attainment and relationships, not just in infancy but throughout life,” Jodi explains.

“So supporting parents who may be finding developing this relationship challenging could make a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of children in WA and reduce the need for more intensive support services in later years.”

Jodi has no hesitation in recommending research to any young women or girls considering a career in science.

“I would absolutely recommend it,” she says.

“Especially if you can combine it with an area or topic you are passionate about.

“Science or research might sound boring.

“In my undergrad course – it was the module everyone dreaded!

“But when you understand the impact it can have on the world, it is actually pretty awesome.

“As somebody who is passionate about improving outcomes for young children, it allows you to do that on a much larger scale.

“There really is no better feeling than knowing you have made a difference.”

Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg

Well celebrated, PCH Anaesthetist, Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg, always knew healthcare was in her future.

At just 14 Britta completed a nursing aide course, and started paramedic training while she was still in high school. Suffice to say she has always been drawn to a career in healthcare.

Through hard work, perseverance and a thirst for knowledge, Britta has an immense list of accomplishments, recently being a recipient of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science 2024 where she was awarded the coveted Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year.

Highlighting Britta’s life-changing research into reducing risks associated with anaesthesia for children, to make surgery and recovery safer, the award is a testament to her dedication and vision.

But Britta has, and will always claim, that such achievements are as much about team efforts and collaborative work.

“It is the team that brings the success, and I am so proud and fortunate to work with so many talented and inspiring people who deserve the same recognition,” she says.

“Internationally, being a woman, I am often in the minority my field, however here at Perth Children’s Hospital we are very lucky to have many academic women working alongside each other, working together and collaborating together.”

Offering her advice for anyone aspiring to pursue a career in science, Britta encourages hard work and determination.

“Work hard and never give up,” she says.

“Chase your passions and you will get there.

“Never lose faith that you can do it.”