About us
Chronic UTI Australia is the only national patient advocacy organisation dedicated to urinary tract infection (UTI). We work towards raising awareness of chronic UTI and for improved, evidence-based UTI testing and treatment in Australia. Chronic UTI Australia is a completely volunteer-run organisation. We are funded through donations and receive no industry or government funding. If you would like to make a donation to help our work, please click here.
Our story
The Chronic UTI Australia website came about after a small group of Australian women met online through their own experiences with chronic urinary tract infections. By networking and sharing research information, resources and personal experiences over several years, it was decided this information and knowledge would be compiled and made available to others searching for answers to their own ongoing urinary symptoms. In 2017 the Chronic UTI Australia website came to life. As interest grew, in 2018 we made it official and became an incorporated association, followed by endorsement by the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC) in 2019 as a registered health promotions charity (HPC). In 2022-23 we conducted a large survey of our patient community to better understand the impact chronic UTI has on people’s lives. You can read the ‘Hearing Patient Voices’ survey report here.
Our mission
Our mission is to put urinary tract infection (UTI) on Australia’s public health agenda by advocating for awareness, recognition, education, research, and improved testing and treatment for ALL forms of UTI. Ultimately, we want to stop the underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment of UTI, so that chronic UTI does not develop and cause needless suffering that so often destroys lives.
Our goals
Our goals are to:
- Ensure existing urinary tract infection (UTI) tests are recognised for their gross insensitivities and are replaced with improved and appropriate diagnostic tests.
- Advocate for, and collaborate with professional groups on, the development of new guidelines for UTI treatment that adequately address the 25-35 percent of patients who fail standard antibiotic therapy.
- Advocate for, and collaborate with, professional groups on the development of a formal definition of chronic UTI, new diagnostic testing and treatment guidelines specifically for chronic UTI, and patient access to specialised, evidence-based chronic UTI treatment in Australia.
- Distribute relevant and up-to-date information, research and resources about UTI, with the aim of helping support people (and their carers) living in Australia who have been diagnosed with, or suspect they have, chronic UTI.
- Help support and promote scientific UTI research globally, with the aim of finding more accurate diagnostic tools and fast, effective and safe treatment for all forms of UTI.
- Continue raising awareness and acknowledgement of chronic urinary tract infection (UTI) throughout Australia.
Our team
Our current volunteer management team who make everything happen.
Andrea Sherwin
Deirdre Pinto
Susan Hawes
Monica Kemp
Sally Murali
Jan Payne
Gaylene Weir
Our supporters
Chronic UTI Australia gratefully acknowledges our supporters and business sponsors for 2025.
Andrea Sherwin
Co-founder / Secretary / Public Officer / 2018 - present
Andrea has a background in small business and professional communication within the agricultural sector. Her interest in urinary tract infections (UTIs) developed through personal experience, which led her to begin exploring the complexities of diagnosis and treatment.
Early in her journey, she established a connection with the late Professor James Malone-Lee in the UK, whose clinical research into chronic UTI helped inform her understanding of the condition.
She went on to create an information resource designed to support people seeking clearer information and answers. Through this work, she connected with others who shared a commitment to improving awareness and advocacy in Australia—ultimately leading to the formation of Chronic UTI Australia and a small team of dedicated volunteers supporting its work.
Andrea remains committed to improving awareness, access to reliable and accurate information, and outcomes for Australians affected by chronic UTIs through her ongoing work with the organisation.
Deirdre Pinto
Co-founder / Chairperson / 2018 - present
Deirdre has been involved with Chronic UTI Australia since she co-founded the organisation in 2018. Her interest in chronic UTI stems from the challenges her adult daughter experienced in having the condition recognised, diagnosed and appropriately treated by Australian doctors.
Prior to her retirement from paid work to focus on advocacy work, Deirdre had a 30-year career as a government policy analyst and program manager in health and community services areas.
Deirdre has also been involved in advocacy for a rare neurological disease, HIV/AIDS in women, children impacted by hemispherectomy brain surgery and animal welfare.
Deirdre’s experiences have led to her strong interest in the way people unite around marginalised or stigmatised health conditions—to support each other, share their experiences and knowledge, and advocate for changes that will improve the lives of others.
Susan Hawes
Committee member / 2023 - present
Susan has worked in health services, academia and government, predominantly medical research, R&D and policy. In her work she is passionate about advocating for consumer involvement in research so diverse perspectives are actively incorporated into the research translation journey through co-design approaches.
Having lived with chronic UTI since 2019, she is more acutely aware of the importance of having consumer input for better health care. Like many with chronic UTI, she had trouble finding medical support and was often given conflicting, unsubstantiated advice.
Finding the Chronic UTI Australia website was a turning point for her and set her on a path to appropriate treatment. Susan joined the management committee to give back and raise awareness about the lack of adequate care for people with UTIs and the consequences on people’s lives, their family and carers. This experience has emboldened her to try and advocate where she can for consumer and patient’s voices and rights.
Monica Kemp
Committee member / Treasurer / 2023 - present
Monica’s experience with chronic UTI spans most of her life, with symptoms beginning in childhood. She faced years of repeated misdiagnoses, dismissive responses and the frustration of inadequate treatment.
When her symptoms resurfaced in 2018, she discovered Chronic UTI Australia. Through the website and an online support group, she finally found answers, along with an Australian GP willing to work collaboratively with her specialist physician at the Artemis Chronic UTI Clinic in London.
Monica’s quality of life has improved by 90 percent thanks to the resources, advocacy and support of Chronic UTI Australia. She felt compelled to give back by utilising her 30 years of accounting experience and now works as a volunteer Treasurer for the organisation.
Sally Murali
Committee member / Communication & Digital Reach / 2025 - present
Sally coordinates communications and digital outreach. She became involved with the organisation after enduring a long term undiagnosed chronic infection, and credits Chronic UTI Australia for helping her secure the correct diagnosis and treatment that has enabled her to reclaim her life.
Sally is passionate about raising awareness for chronic UTI and volunteering enables her to advocate and drive meaningful change. Professionally, Sally works in marketing and project management support.
Gaylene Weir
Committee member / Sponsorship coordinator
Gaylene found Chronic UTI Australia in her search for information about the frequent UTIs that were impacting her quality of life. Through the information provided by the organisation, she was able to find treatment and better understand the condition.
Much of this information challenged the traditional diagnostic tools and management protocols and explained why these accepted regimes are failing patients with recurrent and chronic UTI.
Having been a registered nurse before retirement, Gaylene was familiar with the tests and protocols that had failed her and now volunteers with Chronic UTI Australia to support its goal of improving patient care and raising awareness of chronic UTI nationwide.
Jan Payne
Committee member / Patient representative / 2023 - present
Jan was a sufferer of recurrent UTIs for 10 years. In 2018, when searching for a better understanding of her recurrent UTIs, she found the Chronic UTI Australia website and joined a chronic and recurrent UTI support group on Facebook, which she now manages.
Jan’s career was in the computer industry, first as a programmer and then as a systems analyst and developer.
Jan spent two years studying at Sydney University before getting a job as a computer programmer. As a mature age student, Jan completed a degree in Computing Science at Macquarie University and started working again in the computer industry, this time developing software for the Defence Industry.
After joining the online support group, Jan was asked to be involved as an administrator. Her computer background and her constant desire to research have been an asset.
In 2023, Jan took on the role of Patient Representative on the Chronic UTI Australia Management Committee. This has provided a necessary link between the two groups.