Alison Cameron

I am committed to protecting and advocating for the rights, safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and families.

My career began as a support worker for children and young people with complex needs, where I gained first-hand knowledge of how little autonomy many peoples have over decisions that profoundly affect their lives. Wanting to become an advocate for vulnerable children and families, I enrolled in law school.

My time as a lawyer for women who were experiencing family and domestic violence, children in need of care and protection, and other vulnerable people afforded me a deep understanding of the lived experiences of those navigating often complex government and court processes and the ways in which systems can exacerbate harm. I came to understand that while individual advocacy is critical, lasting change often requires reform at a systems-wide level. It was this realisation that led me towards oversight, reform and systemic advocacy.

As Principal Assistant Ombudsman at Ombudsman WA, I lead the Child and Family Safety Team. My work includes child death reviews and family and domestic violence death reviews. This involves reviewing the systems that affect the lives of individuals, including Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders living in rural and remote areas and communities. In my role, I am able to combine my earlier experience working with at-risk children and families with my knowledge of administrative law to drive systems-wide improvement and accountability.

I believe in innovative, evidence-based and collaborative approaches to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families, especially in regional and remote communities. I hope my Fellowship provides me insights as to how to meaningfully incorporate community experiences and the voice of families in death reviews. I believe this is vital to prevent harm, and to honour those lives tragically lost through family and domestic violence.