About Maureen Helen

I’m Maureen Helen and I want to celebrate my zest for life and share my enthusiasm for life-long-learning with you. My blogs reflect my many interests. They often include tips to help people enjoy life, whatever their age.

My background

Hospital trained as a registered nurse and midwife, my long career in the helping professions. It included work as a nurse in different settings such as a women’s hospital, community nursing and aged care.

While a stay-home mother with six children, I completed a degree in social science. Years later, I added a counselling course at Edith Cowan University and worked as a relationship counsellor. For several years, I tutored in introductory and family sociology and in social research methods at Curtin University.

My last full-time position was as chief executive officer at Advocare Inc. The agency advocates on behalf of people receiving aged care services.  When we discovered how many older people in aged care facilities and in the community were being abused by people they should have been able to trust, we set up the first elder abuse prevention unit in Western Australia.

Maureen Helen, writer

I have always loved writing but opportunities were limited. Before I retired, I made up my mind to take my writing seriously. I completed a Masters Degree in Writing, and was delighted to be accepted as a doctoral candidate to complete a PhD in Writing at Edith Cowan University. ABC Books published my book, Other People’s Country, in 2008.

I met my second husband before my book came out. He taught me to sail an ocean-going yacht, and we eloped to Paris on our honeymoon before the launch of the book. I put serious writing on the back-burner, but have now started to write a novel.

Why I blog

Blogging is a hobby that I take seriously. Having come to the digital world late, I don’t speak the language fluently, but I do love the challenge of exploring new ideas and learning new skills. There are plenty of opportunities for both (and, of course, for writing and research) in my world of blogging.

I write blogs because they provide a place to communicate. Blogging enables an exchange ideas. It helps develop friendships. I love when when readers comment on my posts. As well as that, I like to write about topics suggested by other people.

Legal information

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Photo, Maureen Helen

Maureen Helen