The Honourable Jodie Harrison MP is the Member for Charlestown, currently serving in her third term since she was first elected in 2014.
Jodie was appointed Minister for Women, Seniors and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault on April 5 following the outcome of the 2023 NSW State Election. In her first year as Minister, Jodie has presided over several achievements across her portfolios.

These include:

• Shared Equity Scheme expansion to include domestic violence victim-survivors and introduction of a Bond Waiver Scheme to make it easier for victim-survivors to secure a rental property.
• Appointment of the first stand-alone Women’s Safety Commissioner in NSW.
• Establishing the Women’s Advisory Council to bolster gender equality outcomes in NSW
• Energy bill relief for eligible low-income pensioners and self-funded retirees.

Jodie’s top priority is to put primary prevention and early intervention at the heart of the NSW Government’s strategy to counter Domestic and Family Violence. This approach will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and connects them with the programs they need to end the cycle of violence.

Keeping victim-survivors safe is also critical – and to this end Jodie has oversight of the delivery of the “modern Core and Cluster” women’s refuges. This program will support an additional 2900 women and children fleeing violence annually across NSW.

Prior to her election to Parliament, Jodie served her community in Local Government. She was first elected as a Councillor for Lake Macquarie Council in 2008 and went on to become the first popularly elected female Mayor of the City.

Jodie’s life experience as a member of the Salvation Army in her early years and union delegate helped her develop a passion for social justice.

Jodie is a Charlestown local and proud mother of two adult children – India and Phillip.

Hannah Taylor-Civitarese, a proud Kamilaroi woman, holds a deep hope for First Nations women to be at the centre of coercive control conversations, legislative changes, and reform. Currently pursuing her PhD through the University of Queensland, with experience in international social work, her research centers on the Intersectional factors of Coercive Control for First Nation women in Australia. 

Over the years, Hannah has been privileged to work with First Nation communities in the implementation of health and wellness programs at both state and national levels. 

Her passion for intersectionality has included the award winning 1800RESPECT disability pathways project. 1800RESPECT is the first and only national Telehealth service to be accredited the Communication Access Symbol twice. She is also currently enjoying her role as National Cultural Coordinator for 1800RESPECT. All while juggling being a mother to a vibrant 2 year old and three step children. 

Hannah’s journey began in child protection, where she learned the systemic challenges within Indigenous communities. Motivated to drive change, her commitment to advocacy led her to work with human trafficking task forces in England and the United States, specialising in the rescue and rehabilitation of human trafficking victims. She has also been privileged to have a role in crafting strategies for rehabilitating children involved in sexual offenses. 

Hannah is determined for people to know they always have a hope, they are always valued and they have every right to live free from coercive control.

Kathleen Wincen is a proud Budjiti woman from Western Queensland, a Practicing Solicitor with a Master of Law, a Community Engagement Professional with more than two decades of successful experience in positions supporting the recognition and achievement of vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community and a committed advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Kathleen is recognised consistently for performance excellence and contributions to success in Community Legal, University and Private Sectors, as well as her Volunteer Roles within the community.

Kathleen has delivered the Seniors Legal and Support Service for Senior Australian’s experiencing Elder Abuse, in Toowoomba and surrounding regions for over three years as a Solicitor.

Kathleen has worked as a Family and Wills and Estate Lawyer in Private practice before joining the Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland as a Senior Practitioner.

Kathleen is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland, out of the head office in Toowoomba. Where she runs all five Offices, including, Roma, Murgon, Gympie and Central Queensland.

Her volunteer roles include committee membership on the Darling Downs Health Service Boards in various positions, a member of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Assistance Forum (ATSILAF), Native Title Director and she is a Community Legal Centre – Queensland, First Nations Group Member.

Kathleen is also, a wife to Luke, a mother to Mariah and Annabelle and Ninny to Chloe and Charlee.

Born in Coonabarabran NSW (‘homeland’) – Wiradjuri woman of Dabee descent. Michelle is a lob term visitor on Bundjalung Country in Lismore, Northern NSW.

With a long-standing professional background in NSW Housing Services, NSW Child Protection, NSW Out of Home Care, Relative Assessments, Cultural planning for children and Specialist in Practice & Permanency, Michelles more recent career focus has been working in Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations, partnerships and engagement, policy and programs. ‘Nyumba Consulting’ has been developed with the intent and purpose to challenge systemic response in First Nations Communities, educate and empower practitioners to make systems adapt to the needs of families and communities in a manner that enhances cultural integrity.

Michelle is motivated by engaging with purposeful relationships across sector to enable sound advocacy and sector priority shift and reform, ensuring access and equity for families, communities and children who are more vulnerable than others.

Michelle presents on Aboriginal models of practice which prioritize embedding cultural intelligence into every day decision making, challenging systemic oppression which leads to siloing needs of families and the children. Self-determination and empowerment are not nouns to Michelle, they are verbs – action orientated and outcome focussed. Michelle is a well-considered strategist for programs and projects that enable change, strengthen kinship and family networks.

Christine Robinson is Bundjalung woman.
Christine has worked in the area of domestic, family, and sexual violence for over 30 years. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre.

Wirringa Baiya is a gender and culturally-specific community legal centre. The Centre provides access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and young people. Wirringa Baiya pays special attention to working with victims and survivors of violence.

Christine is currently a member of the NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team, the NSW Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Council, and the First Nations Coercive Control Reference Group.

Chay Brown is born and raised in Mparntwe Alice Springs and works closely with Aboriginal women’s groups in the Northern Territory to prevent family violence. Chay has lived experience of domestic, family, and sexual violence and regularly speaks as a survivor-advocate to inform policy and programming responses. Chay’s doctoral research explored what works to prevent violence against women in the Northern Territory, which led to the development of a Northern Territory specific violence prevention framework. Chay was also the project lead on research exploring experiences of technology-facilitated abuse among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in regional and remote areas and the lead author of the ‘Rante rante ampe Marle and Urreye’ Research Report – the first evaluation of primary prevention projects in the Northern Territory. Chay co-authored Australia’s National Plan to end violence against women and children 2022-2032, the Global Shared Research Agenda for research on violence against women in low-and middle-income countries, and the State of Knowledge Paper on the perpetration of domestic, family, and sexual violence in Australia.

Kayla Glynn-Braun is a proud Wiradjuri Woman from New South Wales and has lived in Australia’s Northern Territory for over a decade with her darling husband Kenny. She grew up in a Black, radical household. Kayla has worked within the community and housing sector for over a decade and has worked in frontline services responding to domestic, family, and sexual violence. With a background in housing and social environments, Kayla has previously been involved in homelessness services, housing policy and systems, case management, and program management. Kayla is particularly passionate about the critical and urgent need for Australia to address violence perpetrated against First Nations women. Kayla has seen firsthand the impacts are on colonization on First Nation people and has lived experience with violence, poverty, the justice system, and colonization.

Larissa Walker (Milbirra), a proud Kuku Yalanji and Torres Strait Islander woman, is dedicated to working with First Nations individuals and communities in Far North Queensland to live violence free.

Holding qualifications in Social and Community services and Indigenous governance and leadership, Larissa understands the importance of building trust, safety and healing opportunities for lasting and meaningful change.

Working for 20 years at Cape York / Gulf RAATSICC, Larissa has been privileged to work alongside a range of organisations and stakeholders to implement various violence prevention and wellness programs.

Te Hika Hepi is the proud father of 5 Māori Koori children. He is employed as a Case Worker in Nabu, which is the Family preservation and restoration program born from Waminda, on Yuin Country. Te Hika values working within an Aboriginal Women Led Community controlled organisation that is grounded in culture, strength based and proactive in pushing back on oppressive systems. The Nabu Program works with the whole of the family. Te Hika’s role is to walks alongside the men as fathers so they can re-establish their masculinity and safety within their family, whilst privileging voices and safety women and children.