07 Jul About Me
I have spent the past two decades investigating the health hazards in the home, much of which I share with you on this website. This takes time, alot of time in fact and for much of my journey it has been a labour of love that ultimately resulted in the first edition of my book – Healthy Home Healthy Family. Like you, I was frustrated that nobody could help us understand why we couldn’t start a family, and we spent thousands of dollars seeking advice from health practitioners all over the country to no avail. However as I began to unravel the timing of events, it became immediately obvious that our health declined when we moved into our home – poor sleep and fatigue initially, followed by lots (10) of miscarriages. At the same time, several of my patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the 1990s were asking about mould in their home. Could their be a connection? As I waded through the research on chemicals in household products, electromagnetic fields and allergens like mould, it began to dawn on me that our homes could be making us sick.
Dr Nicole Bijlsma: An Inspirational Pioneer in Healthy Homes and Environmental Health
Nicole is a woman of passion and her passion lies in environmental health. With a background as a former naturopath and acupuncturist, with 15 years of clinical experience, she made a remarkable career transition to establish the healthy home movement (building biology) in Australia after noticing a significant correlation between her patients’ illnesses and the health hazards present in their homes.
As the author of the highly acclaimed bestseller, “Healthy Home, Healthy Family,” Nicole has established herself as an authority on the subject. She has contributed her expertise as a columnist for Body+Soul (Herald Sun) and is frequently sought after by the media to provide insights on health hazards in the built environment. Her expert commentary has graced popular television shows such as The 7PM Project, Sunrise, The Today Show, The Circle, Channel 7 News, and Today Tonight. She has also shared her knowledge through appearances on Channel 74, ABC radio, Fox FM, webinars, and podcasts.
For over thirty years, Nicole has been lecturing at tertiary institutions, imparting her wisdom in the fields of nutrition, Chinese Medicine, and environmental medicine. She is the leading authority on how to test homes for mould, electromagnetic fields, and toxicants through the Australian College of Environmental Studies which she founded in 1999 where she single-handedly, established the building biology industry in Australia. The college is a registered training organisation that provides the only nationally accredited training in mould, electromagnetic fields, allergens and toxicants in Australia. Her expertise has been recognized by peer-reviewed journals, where she has published her groundbreaking research (see below). As a highly sought-after speaker, she has presented at conferences both in Australia and internationally, including the USA, Malaysia, Thailand, and New Zealand. She was also an industry expert for the first Australian Standard for Mould in Australia.
Nicole’s research (PhD) explored the impact of environmental exposures to toxicants and electromagnetic fields on human health and the ramifications for general medical practice. Her notable works include:
- “Environmental Chemical Assessment in Clinical Practice (2016)“: In this comprehensive publication, Nicole delves into the complex world of environmental chemicals and their impact on human health. Drawing upon her extensive experience as a clinician and building biologist, she provides a thorough assessment framework that enables healthcare professionals to identify and address the health risks associated with environmental toxins. By bridging the gap between environmental science and clinical practice, Nicole equips readers with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the challenges posed by chemical exposures in today’s world.
- “Expert Clinician’s Perspective on Environmental Medicine and Toxicant Assessment in Clinical Practice (2018)“: Recognized as an authority in her field, Nicole brings together a collective voice of expert clinicians in this collaborative work. Through their shared insights, experiences, and evidence-based approaches, the qualitative study offers a comprehensive perspective on environmental medicine and toxicant assessment. Covering a wide range of topics, from chemical exposures to detoxification strategies, the publication serves as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of environmental health and its implications for clinical practice.
- Nicole wrote Healthy Home Healthy Family (over 15,000 copies sold).
- Nicole wrote Chapter 2 on Environmental Medicine in the Advanced Clinical Naturopathic Medicine textbook (Hecht, 2020).
- Does Radiofrequency Radiation impact Sleep? A double-blind, randomised placebo controlled crossover pilot study (currently under peer review). In short, the study demonstrated a Wi-Fi enabled device (baby monitor) impacted sleep both in subjective and objective markers.
Nicole is committed to bridging the gap between environmental factors and human health, and providing clinicians with practical guidance and evidence-based strategies to address the challenges posed by environmental toxins. She is also dedicated to simplifying the science to enable people to create healthy homes that support their mental and physical wellbeing.