about
Vicki Culling, PhD
Director and Principal Trainer
Vicki has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Otago University, a Master of Arts (Applied) in Social Work (with distinction) from Victoria University of Wellington and a PhD in Women’s Studies from Victoria University of Wellington.
Vicki is a bereaved parent and has been actively involved in Sands for over fifteen years. Her first daughter was stillborn at 10 days overdue – an experience which led her to utilise her skills in supporting bereaved parents and families and educating health professionals. Vicki has worked actively at both national and local levels of Sands NZ. She was the first full-time worker for Sands NZ (for one year) when she won a Vodafone World of Difference scholarship in 2006.
Vicki was a founding member of the national Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (PMMRC) from 2005-2011. She was a member of the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) from 2005-2011, as the New Zealand representative on the Parent Advisory Committee and on the ISA Board. Vicki was a member of the NZ Health Quality & Safety Commission’s Consumer Network from 2011-2015, and is currently a member of the Ministry of Health’s National Perinatal Pathology Service Clinical Network.
Vicki has presented at numerous national and international conferences on grief, and perinatal and infant loss, and currently runs support meetings both in-person and online for Sands as well as online learning for midwifery students.
Recent articles featuring Vicki -
Sept 2019 - Stuff NZ - Bereaved parents get new info site but support remains inconsistent link
October 2020 - Capsule NZ - Don't Let it be the Elephant in the Room: How to Support a Friend or Family Member who has Lost a Baby link
October 2020 - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa (PADA) Pop Up Session for Health Professionals (Online webinar) link
June 2021 - The Grief Centre, Auckland, Facebook Live session on Grief and Baby Loss link
Director and Principal Trainer
Vicki has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Otago University, a Master of Arts (Applied) in Social Work (with distinction) from Victoria University of Wellington and a PhD in Women’s Studies from Victoria University of Wellington.
Vicki is a bereaved parent and has been actively involved in Sands for over fifteen years. Her first daughter was stillborn at 10 days overdue – an experience which led her to utilise her skills in supporting bereaved parents and families and educating health professionals. Vicki has worked actively at both national and local levels of Sands NZ. She was the first full-time worker for Sands NZ (for one year) when she won a Vodafone World of Difference scholarship in 2006.
Vicki was a founding member of the national Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (PMMRC) from 2005-2011. She was a member of the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) from 2005-2011, as the New Zealand representative on the Parent Advisory Committee and on the ISA Board. Vicki was a member of the NZ Health Quality & Safety Commission’s Consumer Network from 2011-2015, and is currently a member of the Ministry of Health’s National Perinatal Pathology Service Clinical Network.
Vicki has presented at numerous national and international conferences on grief, and perinatal and infant loss, and currently runs support meetings both in-person and online for Sands as well as online learning for midwifery students.
Recent articles featuring Vicki -
Sept 2019 - Stuff NZ - Bereaved parents get new info site but support remains inconsistent link
October 2020 - Capsule NZ - Don't Let it be the Elephant in the Room: How to Support a Friend or Family Member who has Lost a Baby link
October 2020 - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa (PADA) Pop Up Session for Health Professionals (Online webinar) link
June 2021 - The Grief Centre, Auckland, Facebook Live session on Grief and Baby Loss link