Ged Kearney is the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and the Federal Member for Cooper in the Albanese Labor Government.

She has served in the parliament since March 2018, when she was first elected in a by-election. Ged has previously served as the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, and the Shadow Assistant Minister for Skills.

Before politics, Ged worked as a nurse for two decades until becoming the Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation in the early 2000s. She later became the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) – the peak body of the Australian union movement. At the ACTU she led campaigns for better pay and conditions for workers; including the campaign for 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave.

From nursing to the union movement, to parliament, Ged’s life has centred around caring for others and fighting for progressive politics. She is a strong voice for social justice, workers’ rights, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ protections, support for refugees, and environmental protections inside Labor and the Parliament.

Ged was the second youngest of nine children, born and raised in working-class Melbourne. Ged lived in Cooper for over 25 years, raising her family here. Ged has four children, two stepchildren and six adored grandchildren.

Micaela Cronin commenced as
Australia’s first Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner on 1 November 2022.

Micaela began her career as a social worker in family violence and sexual assault services, and has held leadership roles across the social service sector in Australia and internationally, including President of ACOSS. Micaela was the CEO of an international non-government organisation based in Asia, working to build global service delivery and strategic partnerships to tackle human trafficking and human rights abuses.

In 2014, Micaela was awarded the Robin Clark Leadership award, Victoria’s most prestigious Children’s Protection award, recognising a leader who inspires others in achieving the best outcomes for children, young people and their families.

Nadia is the CEO of Women’s Legal Service Queensland.  Nadia has qualifications in law and business and is passionate about access to justice, legal services, and women's rights and safety. Nadia has a broad range of experience across a diverse range of roles in the corporate, profit-for-purpose, and community sector.

Nadia is focused on legal and social issues affecting women and working with a network of organisations and supporters who are united by a shared belief in protecting the rights of women.

Sue and Lloyd Clarke are the founders of the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, established in 2020 in honour of their daughter Hannah Clarke and grandchildren Aaliyah, Laianah, and Trey, whose lives were tragically taken in an act of domestic violence.

Since its inception, the Foundation has played a vital role in raising awareness, advocating for change, and supporting victims and survivors of domestic and family violence. To date, it has distributed over $380,000 in community grants to grassroots organisations across Queensland. The Foundation also delivers key initiatives including the HALT (Hannah, Aaliyah, Laianah, Trey) Education program for High Schools and Hannah’s Story.

In recognition of their tireless advocacy and profound impact on the ommunity, Lloyd and Sue were named Queensland Australians of the Year in 2022, and in 2025, they were awarded the Order of Australia for their outstanding service to domestic violence prevention and victim support.

Kara Cook is the Federal Member for Bonner, a former domestic violence lawyer and Brisbane City Councillor who has been a long-time advocate for women’s safety and justice.

Before entering Parliament, Kara worked in the Community Legal Sector and founded Australia’s first expert domestic violence law firm, supporting women through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Her career has spanned law, small business and local government, always grounded in a deep commitment to community and equality.

As a member of the Albanese Government, she continues to champion stronger laws, better services, and real accountability to end violence against women. Kara lives in Brisbane with her husband Josh, their three children, and much-loved dog Milton.

Rebecca is the founder of the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety (CWES) and co-founder of the International Coalition Against Economic Abuse.

As an advocate for women’s economic safety, she works globally to raise awareness of economic abuse as a form of family violence and advocate for systems change to support women’s economic safety. She is a Churchill Fellow for her investigation into international service responses to women experiencing or escaping economic abuse.

The Centre for Women’s Economic Safety has been instrumental in driving awareness of economic abuse in this country including by bringing Economic Abuse Awareness Day to Australia, inspiring a Parliamentary inquiry into financial abuse, and calling on banks to address the weaponisation of their products. The Centre directly supports more than 500 victim-survivors a year.

Prof. Kelsey Hegarty, a general practitioner, is the Professor of Family Violence Prevention at the University of Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospital. She leads the Safer Families Centre aiming to transform the health system to address domestic, family and sexual violence.

She is recognised globally as an expert on screening and early intervention in the health care setting, and health system change to promote trauma and violence informed care. She has provided extensive advice to the World Health Organization, including co-chairing the guidelines group for addressing intimate partner and sexual violence in health settings in 2025.

Anne Hollonds is CEO of the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA).

Anne recently concluded her term as Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner, a role based at the Australian Human Rights Commission. This role monitors policy and legislation to ensure that the human rights of children are protected and promoted, and provides advice to governments.

Her report ‘Help Way Earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing’ was tabled in the Australian Parliament in August 2024, and was closely followed by a Senate Inquiry into Youth Justice reform.

Formerly Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Anne was Chief Executive of government and non-government organisations focused on research, policy and practice in child and family wellbeing for 23 years.

As a psychologist Anne has worked extensively in frontline practice, including in child protection; domestic, family and sexual violence; mental health; child and family counselling; parenting education; and family law counselling. Anne currently contributes to several expert advisory groups and boards.

Conor Pall is a nationally recognised advocate, author, and emerging social work professional whose journey from victim-survivor to systems reformer is reshaping the way Australia listens to and supports children and young people.

Conor brings lived expertise to the forefront of policy and practice, driving survivor-led change with courage and conviction.

Conor is also the author of The Shadow that Follows - a children’s book designed to support conversations about trauma, hope, and healing. His work is a reminder that no child should ever be left to navigate the shadow of violence alone.

Carolyn Robinson is the Founder/Managing Director of Beyond DV, a Brisbane-based charity established in 2017 after her family’s experience of domestic violence. Carolyn is also currently Chair of the Australian Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence Recovery Alliance.

Beyond DV is focused on supporting women and children as they rebuild their lives, through programs underpinned by their evidence-based “Recovery Pillars” Frameworks, delivered from recovery centres across Brisbane and from Hannah’s Sanctuary, their transitional housing complex for nine families.

In 2022, Beyond DV established the first HOPE Hub at Westfield Carindale, a safe space where community members can access information, referral and support for DV matters. This model is now being rolled out across Queensland.

A former Educator for over 35 years, Carolyn is also the creator of the highly innovative primary prevention tools for young women and men- the “Love&Learn” and “Ask a Mate” Apps.

Lata Satyen is an Associate Professor in Psychology at Deakin University. She is the Founding Co-Convenor of the Deakin Network Against Gendered Violence. She is also the Victorian State Lead for the Australian Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Recovery Alliance.

She has received over $7.5 Million of research funding and she has published extensively on the prevalence prevention, intervention and recovery after family violence, especially in multicultural communities.

She has received theGovernment of Victoria Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs, the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award, and the Janet Blackman Prize from the Journal of Gender Studies.

Alison is a proud Noongar from Boorloo (Perth), with strong family connections throughout the South West of Western Australia. She is a passionate advocate for Aboriginal empowerment and for improving the lives of all Australians impacted by family, domestic, and sexual violence. Drawing on both personal and professional experiences, she educates communities and champions systemic change.  

Nationally, Alison serves as Co-Chair of the inaugural National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Lived Experience Advisory Council. At the state level, she was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2024 and recognised as an Honorary Fellow of the School of Indigenous Knowledges at Murdoch University.

Through her business, Kwobap Consultancy, she leads several significant community safety initiatives, including the development of Australia’s first Aboriginal Family Violence Risk Assessment Tool and Karlup Aboriginal Corporation’s Aboriginal Family Safety Project, which has established an advisory panel with Elders and leaders in the City of Swan - the local government area with the largest Aboriginal population in Western Australia.

Alison is deeply committed to healing and recovery from trauma, believing that without this critical work being acknowledged, understood, and properly resourced, both those experiencing and those using violence remain at risk of repeating harmful cycles and facing poor life outcomes. She shares her own journey in the hope that others can see the possibility of a life free from violence — one that is safe, happy, and fulfilling.