Meet the Military Faculty Conference speakers

She has had numerous postings, including Balmoral Naval Hospital, HMAS PENGUIN, Canberra Area Medical Unit – Duntroon, Health Officer at both HMAS CRESWELL and HMAS CAIRNS, staff officer within the Directorate of Mental Health, Military Support Officer for the Defence Community Organisation in Cairns, Officer in Charge ADF Ward St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Manager of Clinical Services within the Maritime Operational Health Unit, then as Director Workforce Development & Training/ Director Defence Force Nursing within Joint Health Command. She then posted as Director Navy Health prior to commencing Director of Fleet Health in 2018. In March 2022 she transitioned from full-time military service and currently provides project support as requested.

Operationally she has served in Rwanda, Iraq and Afghanistan.

She is actively involved in the Australian College of Nursing, undertaking the role as Chair of the Military Nursing Faculty.

Her educational qualifications include Doctor of Nursing (Adelaide University), MBA/MPH, MN and Dip Hlt Sc (Ng).

She is married with 3 children.

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Major Madeleine Secco has provided health care and advice within close health, aviation, Special Forces, Career Management, Brigade and Army Headquarters. She deployed to Afghanistan is 2016, working within a multinational Role Two Health Facility. Major Madeleine Secco is current part of the Army Health Policy Team within the Directorate of Army Health.

Major Madeleine Secco is passionate about health care delivery, change management and enhancing peer networks to improve collaboration and health care capability. She has a supportive husband and toddler, who she lives with on a small farm with cheeky chickens and dogs.

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Chief Mayes has served on the following ships, HMAS Diamantina, HMAS Kanimbla, HMAS Arunta, HMAS Sirius, HMAS Toowoomba, HMAS Ballarat, and HMAS Melville. She has deployed all over the world, Solomon Islands, East Timor, Singapore, Iraq, Afghanistan, South East Asia, Humanitarian Aid in Nias, conducted Boarding Operations, and has just returned from Hawaii participating in the biggest Naval exercise that is planned every 2 years, Exercise RIMPAC.

Chief Mayes currently lives in Darwin with her husband Chris, their 11 year old son Lincoln, and 2 French bull dogs, Hugo and Moose.  They have fulfilled their 3 year posting in Darwin, and due to move back to Perth at the end of the year.

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LT Jenkins has deployed on multiple domestic operations including OP COVID-19 ASSIST, OP RESOLUTE and OP AGED-CARE ASSIST, most recently leading a Medical Augmentation Team into regional aged care facilities in Victoria. LT Jenkins is currently posted to the 3^rd Health Battalion whereby he coordinates all training for his unit across Victoria and Tasmania.

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In 2009, Major Martin completed his nursing training and was appointed as a Nursing Officer in the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps. Major Martin has had the privilege of serving across a range of tactical nursing roles in Close and General Army health units and in Joint Health Units. He has also served in Operational and Strategic roles at the Directorate of Army Health, Headquarters Joint Operations Command and Career Management Army.

Major Martin has held various leadership appointments as a Platoon Commander, Officer in Charge, Company Senior Nursing Officer and is currently the Senior Nursing Officer at the Army School of Health. Major Martin has served on Humanitarian and War-like Operations as well as providing support to international training exercises.  Major Martin holds a Bachelor of Nursing, Post Graduate Certificate in Intensive Care Nursing and a Masters in Health Services Management. Major Martin is married to a current serving Army Officer with whom he has two children.

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In 2016 I posted to Oakey Health Centre, working in primary health care and aero-medical evacuation, and also worked as the Operations Corporal, where I liaised with the Aviation Training Centre to ensure that medical emergency response procedures were maintained.  In 2019 I posted to 1 Close Health Battalion (11CHC), and deployed with 2/14 Light Horse Regiment (QMI) to Iraq on Operation OKRA as part of Task Group Taji Nine, as a Medical Trainer.  Upon my return I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and posted to the Army School of Health as a medical instructor, where I now work in the Standards cell managing the Exported Training.  I have undertaking further studies throughout this time, completing a Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) through Charles Sturt University in 2017, and upgrading my Training and Assessment qualifications to TAE16.

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Postings have included Sydney, Katherine (NT), Wagga Wagga and Brisbane, working the aeromedical evacuation, operational and Garrison health space. Overseas deployments have included Middle East Area of Operation (Dubai) and Afghanistan, with many national and international exercise. Currently, Koz works as a Staff Officer, coordinating health effects with the operational space.

Koz’s passion for acute care / trauma nursing lead to perusing further education in this field, completing a grad cert. and masters in Trauma and Emergency Nursing.

While Koz’s current RAAF role (operational planning) doesn’t allow for hands on clinical time, working in the busy emergency department of The Prince of Charles hospital does helps to meet that need.

Koz’s husband is also in the RAAF, and both are kept reasonable (and happily) busy with their two children.

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WGCDR Tatnell joined the Air Force in July 2002 as a Direct Entry Nursing Officer, graduating from Officers’ Training School in November of that year. Her first posting was to 2ATHS (WLM), which included deployment on Operation Anode in 2003, and Operation Sumatra Assist in 2005. Subsequent postings to 1ATHS (1EHS), HOCU, and HQHSW (AMB). This period included deployments on Operation Catalyst and Operation Slipper in 2006, Operation Solomon Assist in 2007, and Operation Slipper in 2010 and 2012.  On Operation Slipper 2010, WGCDR Tatnell commanded the Air Force Surgical and Intensive Care Team (AUSMTF5) that provided clinical services at the Dutch R2E Tarin Kot, and in 2012 was principally responsible for the coordination of all casualty evacuation for Coalition and Afghan casualties within Regional Command South as an embed in the Coalition Headquarters at Kandahar.

In 2013, WGCDR Tatnell performed the role of XO 1EHS. She is a graduate of Australian Command and Staff Course (Joint) in 2015, completing a Master of Military and Defence Studies. This was followed in 2016 by subsequent postings to HQ JHC as Staff Officer to CJHLTH / SGADF, and then to RAAF Tindal as the Tindal Health Centre Manager in 2017. WGCDR Tatnell was appointed to Command of 2EHS in 2019 and she is currently posted to HQHSW as Staff Officer Capability Management.

As the current NURS SCA, WGCDR Tatnell affirms her commitment to implementing the Air Force Nurse Specialist pathway and ensuring the clinical stream is a reality.

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This health experience supported her health planning role in Headquarters 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing and varying policy and governance roles in Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group, Joint Health Command and Air Force Headquarters. She was privileged to Command Joint Health Unit Northern New South Wales and is the current Director of Defence Force Nursing.

Group Captain Stein’s professional development activities have included the USAF Flight Nurse Course and tertiary studies to specialise in Trauma Nursing and Emergency Management. She recently Graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served as a Director on the Board for a Not for Profit Organisation making a difference in Mental Health Services for the community. Her interests outside of work include supporting her childrens’ sporting pursuits, catching up with friends and community service. She has two teenage boys and indulges one very spoilt puppy, Alfie.

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After completing initial entry officer training he posted to HMAS Penguin until 2005 to undertake various duties and roles at Balmoral Naval Hospital and the Submarine and Underwater Medicine Unit (SUMU).  During this time he deployed in HMA Ships Manoora and Kanimbla to Operations ANODE (Solomon Islands), SUMATRA ASSIST (Indonesia) and ASTUTE (Timor-Leste) with the Navy’s Maritime Role 2 health capability.

His deployed roles have included that of critical care and aeromedical evacuation nurse, health operations and plans officer, and deputy J07/health commander.  He posted to HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin early 2007 for duties in Joint Health / Garrison health operations, including direct support to Patrol Boat and Border Protection forces at the time.  CMDR Saunders posted to Fleet Headquarters in Sydney for 2009-13 performing primary staff duties in plans/operations, personnel and healthcare governance.  In this time he established a formal governance framework for Fleet Health Support and developed extensive operational staff and planning experience at numerous multinational exercises, including RIMPAC and TALISMAN SABRE.

These included dual-roles within Australian National Command Elements (ASNCE) undertaking safeguard health support functions and duties, and component level senior health planner interacting with coalition partners.  Of note were his selections as ASNCE J07 for the 2013 ASEAN disaster management exercise in Brunei Darussalam, J07 for Op AMULET (2012), and as health planner in 2014 for Ex ARRCADE FUSION; the certification activity for NATO’s Allied Ready Reaction Corp (ARRC).

Other early career highlights include: being the first Nursing Officer posted to SUMU (2003-2004) performing hyperbaric and primary health care duties; working in the Amphibious and Afloat Support Group formalising the development, management and force generation of the amphibious health support capabilities (2005-2007); and redesigning medical training and simulation capabilities at the RAN Medical School (2014-2015).  CMDR Saunders has also undertaken time in HMAS Tobruk and numerous secondments for non-operational deployments with the RAN’s Fleet Battle Staff, Sea Training Group, Amphibious Task Group, and Mine Warfare Clearance Diving Task Group as the J07/health planner.  He was posted to Russell Offices in 2017 as Principal Staff Officer to the Head People Capability (2-star) in Defence People Group before selection to deploy on Operation OKRA (Iraq) as the Health Engagement/Medical Security Cooperation Officer for Coalition Joint Task Force—Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.  This position was embedded in the US Army Role 3 Combat Support Hospital and responsible for planning and developing strategic projects with the Iraqi Security Forces aimed at improving their combat healthcare systems.  CMDR Saunders was appointed Commanding Officer, Joint Health Unit-Victoria and Tasmania in January 2019 and completed three years in this role during a period of challenging change management and very high tempo due to Op BUSHFIRE ASSIST 2019 and Op COVID19 ASSIST.  He was formally commended for his efforts ushering in the new Defence Health Contract in Victoria and Tasmania during his tenure.  CMDR Saunders hold numerous academic including a Bachelor of Nursing, Masters of Remote Health Practice, Masters of Public Health, Masters of Health Management, and Masters of Defence and Strategic Studies awarded on completion of the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2016.  He is currently posted to the Directorate of Navy Health in Canberra responsible for strategic capability management of the Navy Health workforce.

He is married to Kylie and father to their four boys, all of whom share his penchant for being outdoors, especially if it involves boating, bush walking or the beach.

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