Deborah Schaler

Deborah Schaler's personal history as a woman has included roles as wife, mother (including time as a single mother) and worker in both paid and voluntary capacities. Starting out as an aspiring ballerina, she eventually landed roles in health care settings, working initially as a cardiac technician in Canberra hospitals, moving on to health promotion management positions with the National Heart Foundation and ACT Community Health.

In between times she married, and produced and co- raised three wonderful children who were all fortunate to be born and educated in Canberra. Deborah has held a range of positions on various school committees and engaged very actively in school activities with the singular exception of tuck shop duty which she always felt was way too intimidating. Her "babies" are now aged between 15 and 23 years of age, only one still lives at home, and empty nest syndrome will never become a problem - too many exciting possibilities.

Deborah never quite lost her ballerina dreams and general love of all artistic endeavours. She participated in amateur theatre as a performer, choreographer, publicist or committee member for a number of years and otherwise was a keen member of audiences at the theatre, opera, musical presentations or at galleries. Trolling around bookshops, writing and drawing are other personal indulgences.

Deborah moved into the world of professional employments in the arts and cultural sectors in Canberra for a period of six years, taking management positions at Canberra Arts Marketing and Ausdance ACT (Australian Dance Council) and was a member of a number of Boards and Committees in this sector. She worked as an independent arts publicist for two years.

Health recently beckoned Deborah back, however and she is now employed in the Breast and Cervical Screening Programs of ACT Community Health.