Rachel Stanfield- Porter

CEO and Founder of Bonnie Babes Foundation

Rachel Stanfield-Porter is a former Camberwell High School student who has made considerable achievements in the area of perinatal medicine and grief counselling. She lost her first two children during pregnancy but she has gone on to have two healthy children.

In1994, she founded the Bonnie Babes Foundation, which is a volunteer-based charity and non-government funded.

 

The role of the Bonnie Babes Foundation:

Providing medical equipment to hospitals for premature babies struggling for life in intensive care.

Assisting vital medical research projects into pregnancy loss and complications to women's health during and following pregnancy.

Providing education and training for health professionals.

Providing 24 hour, 7 day per week free family crisis phone lines for those who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or prematurity.

Providing health nutrition and wellness advice for women prior to and during pregnancy. .

Providing support for families with infertility issues and assists with counselling issues of IVF procedures. .

Providing support for babies born with abnormalities.

Supporting women who develop pre-eclampsia and other medical conditions during pregnancy.

Rachel's contribution by raising funds for medical research has saved the lives of many babies across Australia. She has escalated the public awareness of miscarriage and stillbirth.

In 2008, she was awarded Citizen of the Year of Boroondara.

 

Other awards:

1996 Growing Years Award

1998 Best Moomba Float for her design

1998 Executive Woman of the Year Humanities and Community sector

1998 Tattersall's Unsung Hero Award

1999 Australian Humanitarian of the Year (Health Section)

2005 Finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards in Victoria

Appeared in the Who's Who of Australian Women 2008 and the Who's Who of Victoria Business 2008

 

Her other roles and projects:

Resides on the Celebrating Melbourne Awards with Mayor John So

Helped develop the 2008 Australia-China Business Week conducted at Crown Casino in Victoria

Is a Justice of the Peace.

Is a member of the National Grief and Loss Association

Is a member of the CEO Institute

Has written two books and currently completing a third book

Is currently helping to produce a documentary 'Stillborn' due for commercial release later this year

 

In November 1999, Rachel was appointed as the Chairperson of the ISIS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ISIS Communications group. The ISIS Foundation is a non-government funded, not-for-profit organisation. Rachel has an exceptional knowledge of both local and world issues. This committee was established to assist under-privileged children obtain an adequate education.

Rachel helped to organise the 'World Reconciliation Concert' with Nelson Mandela. A one million dollar cheque was presented to Nelson Mandela for his children's charity Foundation at the end of his visit. With one in four pregnancies ending in a loss the Bonnie Babes Foundation has become a vital part of the Australian community for over 14 years.

Against all odds, her drive and determination has meant the charity has survived and been highly successful in helping thousands of families. The charity now has branches in the US, UK and New Zealand. All the branches were started by Rachel.

Shel is a truly inspiring lady who turned the tragic circumstances of her own lost into passion to help others.

Contact Bonnie Babes on www.bbf.org.au