Chair, Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence Working Group | Member, Policy, Advocacy & Advisory Cmte

• Nov 2021 - Present

The National Women’s Safety Alliance brings together a diversity of voices, expertise and experience to inform and guide national policy on women’s safety. The NWSA, established in August 2021, connects the sector, experts, government, and victim-survivors with a shared vision to end violence against women. This will be achieved through consultation, research, and the collaborative development of expert policy advice to government. https://nwsa.org.au/about/ The National Women’s Safety Alliance brings together a diversity of voices, expertise and experience to inform and guide national policy on women’s safety. The NWSA, established in August 2021, connects the sector, experts, government, and victim-survivors with a shared vision to end violence against women. This will be achieved through consultation, research, and the collaborative development of expert policy advice to government. https://nwsa.org.au/about/

Member, National Plan Advisory Group

• Jun 2021 - Present

The Morrison Government has established a National Plan Advisory Group which will inform the development of the National Plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. The Advisory Group works alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council to ensure relevant Closing the Gap targets are embedded in the next National Plan. https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/7201 The Morrison Government has established a National Plan Advisory Group which will inform the development of the National Plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. The Advisory Group works alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council to ensure relevant Closing the Gap targets are embedded in the next National Plan. https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/7201

Member, CEASE National Advisory Group

• Oct 2021 - Present

The Morrison Government is committing $4.2 million to trial a new domestic violence deterrence program as part of our commitment to end violence against women and children. The Coordinated Enforcement and Support to Eliminate (CEASE) Domestic Violence Program aims to deter perpetrators from reoffending through overt monitoring and clear consequences for further offending, particularly repeat intimate partner violence. The trial is being modelled on the Intimate Partner Violence Initiative (IPVI) developed by the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College, New York, and first introduced in High Point, North Carolina. The CEASE Domestic Violence Program will be the first trial run outside of the US and will be delivered by the Australian Institute of Criminology, working closely with state and territory partners. https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/7501

Member, Sexual Assault Research Advisory Panel, Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research

• Jun 2021 - Present

The NSW Government had committed to fund a research project designed to improve our understanding of victim experiences with the criminal justice process, and a targeted education program for judges, legal practitioners and police. The NSW Government had committed to fund a research project designed to improve our understanding of victim experiences with the criminal justice process, and a targeted education program for judges, legal practitioners and police.

Member, Australian Child Maltreatment Study Advisory Board

• Oct 2021 - Present

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) is the first national prevalence study of child maltreatment and its correlates ever conducted in Australia. It is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government for 5 years. The study assesses the prevalence of child maltreatment in Australians with a fully random sample of 8,500 Australians aged 16-65 plus. It assesses a range of life outcomes including physical and mental health in adulthood. One of the key outcomes it is assessing is exposure in adulthood to intimate partner violence (in a variety of physical and non-physical forms) and how this might be related to adversity in childhood. The advisory board includes representatives from all States and Territory governments as well as Federal representation as well as key NGOs and peak bodies. More detail the study can be found in the published Australian Child Maltreatment Study protocol paper: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/5/e047074.full

Chief Executive Officer

• Jun 2021 - Present

Strategic, financial and operational leadership and governance. Full Stop Australia is here to put a full stop to sexual, domestic or family violence through support, education, and advocacy. Support: offering confidential, trauma specialist counselling for people of all genders who are impacted by violence and abuse, as well as their friends, colleagues and family members. Education: offering best-practice training and professional services to support safe and respectful workplaces, educational environments, and communities. Advocacy: encouraging governments, businesses, and communities to make changes to laws, policies, and practices to better prevent and respond to sexual, domestic and family violence.

Member, Domestic and Family Violence and Sexual Assault Council

• Feb 2020 - Present

The Domestic and Family Violence and Sexual Assault Council (Council) is an alliance between government and non-government representatives working to address domestic and family violence and sexual assault in NSW. It strives to be an integrated response to domestic and family violence and sexual assault in NSW, and provides advice to the NSW Government. The Council brings together representatives from the NSW government, non-government organisations and academia. It facilitates shared understandings of the NSW Government’s reforms in domestic and family violence and sexual assault, and monitors and advises on reform implementation. The Council also provides advice on legislation, and policy and programs, relating to domestic and family violence and sexual assault and is chaired by the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

Member, STOP Domestic Violence Conference Program Committee

• Jan 2020 - Present

https://anzmh.asn.au/sdvc-2022 https://anzmh.asn.au/sdvc-2022

Member, Community Action Group Primary Prevention Project Advisory Panel

• Jan 2022 - Present

Chief Executive Officer

• Oct 2018 - Jun 2021

Women's Safety NSW is a state-wide peak body for women's specialist services advocating for women’s safety in the context of domestic and family violence. Women's Safety NSW is a state-wide peak body for women's specialist services advocating for women’s safety in the context of domestic and family violence.

Violence Prevention Consultant

• Nov 2016 - Oct 2018

MATE/ Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) is a leadership program focused on preventing all forms of violence. It utilises a bystander approach to prevention. The program does not view participants as either perpetrators or victims of violence. Rather, it views all participants as empowered bystanders who can safely and effectively confront, interrupt or prevent violence wherever it occurs. MATE/ Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) is a leadership program focused on preventing all forms of violence. It utilises a bystander approach to prevention. The program does not view participants as either perpetrators or victims of violence. Rather, it views all participants as empowered bystanders who can safely and effectively confront, interrupt or prevent violence wherever it occurs.

Principal Consultant

• Sep 2013 - Oct 2018

H. Foster Consulting Services was set up to provide a range of strategic organisational and sector development services, including: training; consulting; facilitating; submission writing; evaluation. (Consulting Services Project List attached) H. Foster Consulting Services was set up to provide a range of strategic organisational and sector development services, including: training; consulting; facilitating; submission writing; evaluation. (Consulting Services Project List attached)

Law Placement

• Jun 2018 - Sep 2018

Her Legal is a feminist law firm working with women to achieve safety and empowerment through access to justice across the local/magistrates, children's and family/federal circuit courts. The placement involves assisting the Principal Solicitor with conducting client appointments, legal research, drafting documents, appearances, and law reform submissions as required. Her Legal is a feminist law firm working with women to achieve safety and empowerment through access to justice across the local/magistrates, children's and family/federal circuit courts. The placement involves assisting the Principal Solicitor with conducting client appointments, legal research, drafting documents, appearances, and law reform submissions as required.

Acting Centre Manager

• Nov 2017 - May 2018

Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre is a member of the Community Legal Centres NSW and Women's Legal Services Australia, and encompasses a range of services and programs including a Community Legal Service, a Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS), a Tenant's Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) and an Aboriginal Women's Community Development Program (Mirrung Ngu Wanjarri). My role was to facilitate the effective operation of all services and projects and to fulfil the delegated management functions of the Centre’s Board of Management. • Resourcing Committee of Management • Funding • Financial oversight and monitoring • Organisational planning and monitoring • Human resource management • Representation and public profile

Development and Innovation/ Violence Prevention Specialist

• Jun 2016 - Nov 2017

Identification, initiation and coordination of strategic organisational and sector development opportunities within the domestic and family violence sector in Northern NSW and Northern Rivers Women's Domestic Violence Services in particular. Examples of initiatives include: - Development and implementation of a regional Violence Prevention Network in partnership with Griffith University; - Piloting of a Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court Support Service in the Family Court (first in regional NSW); - Initiating a proposal to develop an Integrated Domestic Violence Court Model in Northern NSW; and - Initiating a project with the NSW Victim’s Rights Commissioner to improve the accessibility of specialist domestic and family violence counselling services for both adult and child survivors across the region. Facilitation of Griffith University's Violence Research and Prevention Program's MATE/ MVP Violence Prevention Program; workshops and train-the-trainers.

Coordinator - Northern Rivers Family Law Pathways Network

• Jul 2015 - Dec 2016

Coordination of activities in line with the aims of the Network to support practitioners across the legal, community and Government sectors to work collaboratively, maintain strong working relationships and develop appropriate referral mechanisms across the broader family law sector to better assist separating families. Representation of Steering Committee at district and region-wide interagency fora, events and in media. Coordination of activities in line with the aims of the Network to support practitioners across the legal, community and Government sectors to work collaboratively, maintain strong working relationships and develop appropriate referral mechanisms across the broader family law sector to better assist separating families. Representation of Steering Committee at district and region-wide interagency fora, events and in media.

Family Violence Project Officer

• Jan 2016 - Jun 2016

Coordination of activities aimed at strengthening NNSW LHD service response to domestic and family violence, ensuring Domestic Violence Routine Screening (DVRS) and domestic and family violence training is systematically carried out and expanded across relevant NNSW LHD services. Investigation of options for improved service responses to domestic and family violence by NNSW LHD and development of a NNSW LDH Domestic Violence Action Plan. Coordination of activities aimed at strengthening NNSW LHD service response to domestic and family violence, ensuring Domestic Violence Routine Screening (DVRS) and domestic and family violence training is systematically carried out and expanded across relevant NNSW LHD services. Investigation of options for improved service responses to domestic and family violence by NNSW LHD and development of a NNSW LDH Domestic Violence Action Plan.

Project Officer - Domestic Violence Integrated Response Model Project

• Aug 2012 - Sep 2012

Researched and developed an integrated response model for responding to domestic and family violence in Northern Rivers region of NSW. Researched and developed an integrated response model for responding to domestic and family violence in Northern Rivers region of NSW.

Principal Consultant

• May 2007 - Sep 2011

Project management, community service policy development and implementation: consultations; report writing; development of policy and procedure manuals and training packages; development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation processes; follow-up support with staff, supervision and support of sub-contractors. (Consulting Services Project List attached)

Consultant

• Aug 2005 - Apr 2007

Community service policy development and implementation: consultations; report writing; development of policy and procedure manuals and training packages; development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation processes; and follow-up support with staff. (Consulting Services Project List attached)

Head Office Coordinator

• Jan 2006 - Oct 2007

Head office coordination; resource management, communications; volunteer coordination and support in both office and campaigning related areas.

Contributor Service Officer

• Jan 2005 - Jan 2006

Provision of telephone support for members and contributors of the organisation; processing donations and payments; maintenance of the donor database; training, supporting and supervising volunteers; dissemination of information; and provision of referral services to regional offices and various teams and departments.

Campaigner

• 2004 - 2004

Raising funds and awareness for various registered charities in community areas within London and other United Kingdom sites; and the provision of training and support to new team members. Raising funds and awareness for various registered charities in community areas within London and other United Kingdom sites; and the provision of training and support to new team members.

Financial Advisor Associate

• Jan 2003 - Dec 2003

Provision of investment advice to individuals by appointment in the areas of wealth creation, superannuation, retirement planning, taxation planning, estate planning and risk management. The position also entailed financial and risk plan preparation, servicing of existing client base & training and aiding in the skill development of staff. Provision of investment advice to individuals by appointment in the areas of wealth creation, superannuation, retirement planning, taxation planning, estate planning and risk management. The position also entailed financial and risk plan preparation, servicing of existing client base & training and aiding in the skill development of staff.

Assistant to the Property Manager

• Jan 2001 - Dec 2002

Tenant-landlord liaison; tenant and landlord database management; small switchboard operation; website management; filing and general administrative work. Tenant-landlord liaison; tenant and landlord database management; small switchboard operation; website management; filing and general administrative work.

Information and Resource Officer

• Dec 2002 - 2002

Provision of information and resources to women’s refuges on a state-wide basis; general administration; website maintenance; Executive Officer briefings; and public information dissemination. Provision of information and resources to women’s refuges on a state-wide basis; general administration; website maintenance; Executive Officer briefings; and public information dissemination.

Accountant Associate

• Jan 2000 - Jan 2001

Assistance with the preparation of income tax returns; business activity statements; monthly, quarterly and yearly financial accounts; billing; company audits; servicing clients over the telephone; filing and general administrative work. Assistance with the preparation of income tax returns; business activity statements; monthly, quarterly and yearly financial accounts; billing; company audits; servicing clients over the telephone; filing and general administrative work.