National Carer Strategy Advisory Committee members

Co-chairs

Chair of the Women Who Care Program and the Carers Inclusive Workplace committee. Meredith is a carer and mother of a young person with chronic mental illness and has 39 years of experience working in social care with vulnerable people across NSW government, not for profit and private sectors.

Group Manager - Disability and Carer Programs, Department of Social Services, with responsibility for carer policy, including the National Carer Strategy and Carer Gateway.

Members

National President of The Partners of Veterans Association of Australia (PVA). Advocating for members, young partners, and families of defence and ex-defence personnel, providing support to enhance their quality of life. 

Full-time long-term carer for elderly parent, with extensive government experience, particularly in the multicultural area, identifying the needs of diverse background clients and brokering positive outcomes. Member of the Ukrainian community and Secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Parish Council in Melbourne, caring for many recently arrived Ukrainian refugees. Current Member of Consumer Advisory Board of the Australian Multicultural and Community Services organisation.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Little Dreamers, globally recognised advocate for young carers, and a community leader with lived experience caring for various family members.

Worked in the community services sector with disability, aged care and carer services for over 40 years and a member of Mental Health Carers and Carers NSW.

Carer of child with a genetic condition, founder of Supports Finder and consumer member of Royal Children’s Hospital Consumer Advisory Committee, Royal Children’s Hospital Serious Advent Review Committee, Victorian Paediatric Steering Network, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Disability Mental Health Group. An advocate for regional and rural areas for healthcare, disability and carer rights. 

Chair of GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc., pansexual member of the LGBTQIA+ community, with lived experience as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and carer to a person with dementia. Possesses extensive experience working with and advising the government on issues affecting diverse communities.

A retired teacher, principal and educationalist. Currently a carer who volunteers for several community organisations.

Retired Director of the board of Carers SA, contributed to the development and implementation of the Carer Gateway and has extensive experience in the community services sector heading substantial service and system reform in disability, health and carer supports.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists SA/NT Branch Secretary and Mental Health, Disability and Older People Advocate who identifies as LGBTQIA+ with a disability. He received a commendation from the NT Disability Inclusion Awards for Excellence in Rights Promotion (2023).

Lived experience carer and Chief Executive Officer of Carers Australia, extensive experience working with and advising government.

Executive Director of Eating Disorders Families Australia, with 6 years of experience caring for her daughter with Anorexia Nervosa. Founder of a support group for parents of individuals with substance dependency. Member of Lived Experience Advisory Group to the Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Centre and, appointed to the e-Safety Commissioner's expert advisory panel.

Care Support Planner and formed the Young Carer Advisory Committee - voice of CALD youths and the community. An advocate for the interests and perspectives of mental health carers at the federal level.