Who we are: the purpose and people behind Possums

Possums cake for the launch of Possums education, 2013
Launch of Possums Education, 2013

Our mission
To grow joy in early life through evidence-based support

The Possums mission is to improve the care of parents with infants in the domains of breastfeeding, feeds, sleep, infant sensory motor development, cry-fuss problems, and perinatal emotional wellbeing + mental health using evidence-based, clinically effective tools. 

Building on her earlier research, Dr Pam launched the first Possums Clinic in 2011 to advance this vision. Since then, she has developed Possums across multiple platforms and iterations, including a registered charity (2013–2023). Distinguished by its scientific rigour through peer-reviewed research, iterative development, and transparent evaluation, the Possums project has been and remains a pioneering force in its domains of early life healthcare - breaking new ground, influencing international practice, and transforming the lives of families worldwide.

Video: Hello from Dr Pam

Possums doesn’t  try to change what’s currently working for families. Instead, we empower parents to make informed decisions based on genuinely science-backed information, because parents are the experts on their own babies and toddlers.

Explore the science behind possums

We aim to help parents trust their babies, toddlers, and themselves. We aim to empower them. We aim to help them grow joy in life with their little ones.

Dr Pam photo

Meet the founder of Possums/NDC
Dr Pamela Douglas

Dr Pam photo

Dr Pamela Douglas is an Australian GP and researcher with nearly four decades of experience working with families. She is a Breastfeeding Medicine Physician and Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and first qualified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 1994.

Dr Pam is also an Adjunct Associate Professor with the School of Medicine at Griffith University and a Senior Lecturer with the General Practice Clinical Unit at The University of Queensland. She has authored a bestselling book for parents of infants, The Discontented Little Baby Book.

Pam lives amidst unruly bookcases, gum trees which crowd in through her windows, and the birdcalls of an Australian backyard. Her pets, a hive of native bees, generally keep to themselves out on the deck. She is very proud of her amazing bunch of children, stepchildren, and grandchildren – most recently joined by a precious little great-grandchild!

Pam has had the honour of being a Director of the Board of the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASS) since 2012, ongoing.

Learn more about Dr Pam's work for parents in The Possums Programs, education for health professionals, providers and educators at The NDC Institute, or explore her book, The Discontented Little Baby Book.

Meet the Possums team

Tom Douglas-Powell

Tom Douglas-Powell

GENERAL MANAGER

Tom is Dr Pam's son and the General Manager of Possums. In 2023, Tom and Pam co-founded this latest manifestation of the Possums project together. Tom took over driving the project forward with one goal in mind: to do justice to his mum's life work on the enterprise building, development, and management side of things. He believes her work needs to become mainstreamed.

Tom has worked previously in professional sports and as an entrepreneur. He played professional volleyball for over a decade in many clubs around the world, and also represented Australia over 100 times. He's taken the lessons he learned about individual and team success into his career as an entrepreneur, establishing different projects and businesses since 2018. Tom also has a postgraduate Bachelor of Arts, majoring in history.

In the hours he's not working hard trying to make change in the world, Tom loves time with friends + family, music, learning, reading, writing, nature, hiking, camping, sport, history, travel, food, parties, and dancing to good sounds coming from good sound systems at all hours of the day or night.

Cathryn Proberts

Cathryn Proberts

EDUCATION MANAGER, NDC INSTITUTE

Cathryn (RNus Comm) is a highly experienced event management specialist and manager. Since 2020, she has enjoyed working for Possums as Education Manager coordinating the NDC Institute's educational programs including the masterclasses, grant speaker program and conferences.

Prior to Possums, Cathryn has directed international and national conferences, government events, client reward programs, art exhibitions, building openings and fundraising events for her non-profit organisations, NGOs, public and private companies and government authorities. These events have been held throughout Australia, New Zealand and internationally for up to 4,000 people.

In her spare time, Cathryn enjoys spending time with family and friends, including her 3 second adult children, which she considers her greatest achievement. She has a passion for the outdoors, travel and in particular, enjoys long walks and ocean swimming.

Leo Mylonas

Leo Mylonas

LEAD DEVELOPER

Marisha Deroubaix

Marisha Deroubaix

FRONT END DEVELOPER

McKenna Kemp

McKenna Kemp

SENIOR DESIGNER & BRAND STRATEGY

Bree Cosgrove

Bree Cosgrove

NDC EDUCATOR

Khaaliq Dejan

Khaaliq Dejan

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Lee Horobin

Lee Horobin

Accounting & Co-Sec