Janice Withnall

Since 2004, Dr Janice Withnall, with the initial support of Western Sydney University, explored with midlife women, health practitioners and peer supporters, the ways of women’s recovery from alcohol use disorders and the interrelated intense personal and family distress. Her expertise is transdisciplinary and her current focus is on practical, women-oriented ways of strengthening recovery relationships for mental health and whole-person wellness. In 2018 the World Health Organisation and major research institutes declared that no amount of alcohol consumption is safe – all consumption has a risk of harm.

Prior to 2004 Janice’s research and social sciences tertiary teaching focused on; understanding human, socio-cultural and ecological networks for better personal and community outcomes – breast cancer, environmental health, organic farming and professional media and organisational communication. Her early career was with multinationals (eg Alcan Aluminium) in communication, public relations and human services roles. Moving away from large corporations Janice ran her own Sydney business to encourage and support not for profit organisations (eg Royal Life Saving Society) and government agencies (Environmental Protection Agency) to improve their internal and external communication and advocacy planning. Requests to lecture at universities – University of Technology, University of Sydney and Western Sydney led to finishing postgraduate degrees and a career change.