I am a strong passionate woman who believes and strives towards a society free of violence against women and children, where all identifying women and their children are safe in their homes and their communities and have the support and resources, they need to live active and fulfilling lives. I have worked in the Domestic Violence Sector for over 25 years, prior to this I was a primary/infants’ schoolteacher. I am a mother of 2 strong independent women who share the same passions and causes as their mother. I currently manage the Nepean team of Specialist Domestic Violence Case Workers with DV West. I have worked closely with Penrith Women’s Health Centre for all of these 25 plus years. I joined the Penrith Women’s Health Centre Management Committee over 12 years ago and am honoured and proud to continue to support this great service.

After working in the public sector for approximately 15 years for both the state and commonwealth governments I moved to the community sector where I have been working for the past 30 years. During this time I have worked and managed services in the youth and adult homelessness sector and during the last 9 years I have also managed a domestic violence service. I am currently employed as the Client Services Manager with Link Wentworth Housing in Penrith managing the adult homelessness and domestic violence services. I am passionate about social justice, ensuring that everyone has the right to a home and my favourite rugby league team Many Sea Eagles. I have a degree in Bachelor Social Science (Welfare & Sociology).

I have worked in the community sector as a paid employee for 21 years and as a volunteer for approx. 28 years. My experience has main been in Community Development and for 15 years working with at risk youth. I am currently employed as General Manager with Community Junction Inc (which is base din Nth St Marys with offices in St Clair, Colyton, Werrington, and 2 youth Centres and a preschool and OOSH). I am pas- sionate about enabling our staff and clients to meet their full potential. My qualifications include Cert IV WHS; Diploma Community Management.

Admitted as a lawyer in 1986, I worked for the State DPP in the drug prosecutions unit then the child sexual assault unit. I went into private practice in 1987, had a general practice, then became a partner in a Western Suburbs general practice, where I was doing rostered DV work, Children’s Court work, family law, workers compensation, wills, probate, residential and commercial conveyancing. I did voluntary work at the Nepean Hawkesbury Community Legal Centre and was on the management committer of that Centre as well. I did advice at the Barnardos Legal Service in Cranebrook. I did recovery reading at Barnardos for a period of time, then worked in a boutique Family Law firm. Then joined Legal Aid NSW in 2000. Worked variously in family law and care and protection litigation,as the Senior of a team of lawyers and then in the Early Intervention Unit of Legal Aid, working mostly in the Indigenous Hub.

I am a Counsellor and Psychotherapist with 20 years’ experience in the community sector and hold clinical registration with PACFA. My career has focussed on working with victims of violence in youth homelessness, residential Out Of Home Care, disability and adult/ family support services. I am currently working as Program Manager for the Miranda Project & Pathways Home run by the Community Restorative Centre, which supports women impacted by the Criminal Justice System who have been victims of Domestic and Family Violence, and the rising overrepresentation of First Nations Women in the criminal justice system. This year I was an Insight Exchange Associate and in 2022 I will be participating in the Insight Exchange Cross-Sector Leadership Exchange Program. I am passionate about advocating for every persons basic rights of safety, dignity and equality but also for the cultural, societal and systemic change that needs to occur to reduce the injustice and violence for future generations.