Kristy McKellar

Kristy McKellar is a courageous survivor of, and advocate against, family violence. She has dedicated over two decades of her life to improving the lives of others by working with community organisations and government to champion reform, social change and gender equality. Renowned in Australia and around the world, Kristy has been named as one of the top 100 Women of Influence in the country and the Agenda Setter of the Year for Australia. Additionally, she has been inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

With an academic background in Social Science and Social Work, Kristy McKellar is an inspiring, influential advocate, consultant and keynote speaker.

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Kristy’s work with government, law makers, not-for-profits, corporates, clubs and sporting codes has driven critical change. She has addressed Members of the Legislative Assembly and Council and she played a significant role in the Victorian Royal Commission into family violence.

By highlighting the complexities and failures of the system, Kristy influenced the implementation of new legislation in Victoria to better protect and validate victims, prioritise their rights and hold perpetrators to account. As a result, victims of family violence in Victoria are now able to live safer, healthier, happier lives, and the lives of children are protected and acknowledged.

Influenced by Kristy’s advocacy, the Carlton Football Club established its “Carlton Respects” family violence initiative in partnership with the Australian Football League, which focuses on respect and equality.

Kristy shaped the first Male Champions of Change model, and continues to work with all Male Champions nationally. She has driven effective change with major corporates in Victoria to embed practical measures within their organisations, implementing various domestic/family violence policies including paid leave and helping reintegrate survivors into the workforce. This work has broadened the nation’s understanding of family violence and its workplace responsibilities.

Kristy has helped reform the education of Victoria Police by developing a mandated family violence dynamic module e-learning package, which has successfully trained 15,000 members at all levels, highlighting gaps and failures in the family violence policing response.

Kristy is the Deputy Chair of the Victims Survivors’ Advisory Council, and is a member of the Royal Commission Chief Magistrates Taskforce and Social Services Taskforce with the Special Minister of State. She is a delegate to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence Steering Committee, sits on the Women’s Health East ‘Speaking Out’ Eastern Media Advocacy Program (EMAP) Steering Committee and is the Ambassador and chair of the first Victorian local government ‘Together We Can’ Community Advisory Group.

Kristy has made outstanding contributions on a national scale, challenging everyone to play their part in preventing family violence. She has empowered many to speak out, gain assistance, and restored hope for individuals to live a life free from fear and violence and to seek equal opportunities.