Heather Forbes joined the ABC in 1990 as a foundation member of the (now defunct) Lateline program as the Associate Producer. From 1996 until her redundancy in December 2014, Heather was the Manager for Staff Development in the News Division, responsible for training and professional development of journalists across the Division. In particular, Heather administered the News Cadetship program and was responsible for the recruitment and training of junior journalists. In 2006 with the assistance of the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma, Heather established a Trauma Awareness and Peer Support program to assist journalists suffering from work related trauma. This program was a world first