Kellie is a policy adviser and prevention practice leader at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), where she oversees initiatives to enhance local government’s capacity in primary prevention. Currently, 27 councils are funded through the Free from Violence Local Government Program to deliver primary prevention programs.  

Councils are uniquely positioned to influence various key settings, and prevention efforts under this program have been embedded into council workforces, services and facilities such as sport and recreation, maternal and child health and external partnerships with schools, women’s health services and community organisations. These initiatives align with Change the story and the Victorian Government’s Local Government Guide for Preventing Family Violence and All Forms of Violence Against Women.  

MAV’s two prevention practitioners, funded by the Victorian Government, play a pivotal role in building all 79 Victorian councils’ capability and capacity for primary prevention. Their practitioner network, operational since 2010, has been instrumental in encouraging collaboration and shared learning.  

Kellie’s background in homelessness and public housing has shaped her strengths-based approach, with an emphasis on community development, relationship-building and meeting communities where they are at. Drawing on her local government experience, Kellie also brings an understanding of the systems, frameworks, terminology and specific opportunities and challenges of councils that she sees as critical for trust-building, engagement and successful setting-coordination.  

Kellie is practised in reviewing policies to see how they could be strengthened to address issues like compounding disadvantage. Like many of her council colleagues, she sees benefit in sharing policies and lessons learned with others in the workforce, preventing duplication. Effective communication, facilitation and relationship management are central to her work, ensuring diverse audiences are engaged in meaningful dialogue while being careful to avoid collusion with harmful ideas.  

Kellie notes the importance of peer support and backing from peak bodies to encourage collaboration, alignment and sector-wide capacity-building. Creating spaces for dialogue and mutual support strengthens practitioners and their work.