Samantha brings to the FCAV nearly 30 years’ experience in the Victorian public sector, and 5 years’ experience as a board member at Kidsafe Victoria. She has been a carer for over 20 years and as a long term FCAV member has been engaged in the carer community, understanding how important that sense of connection is for carer’s wellbeing.
Samantha has been CEO of the Foster Care Association of Victoria (FCAV) since July 2019, bringing nearly 30 years experience across foster care, child protection, government and the broader child and family services sector.
As a foster carer herself of more than 20 years and a long-term FCAV member before becoming CEO, her lived experience alongside her professional experience, makes her a passionate advocate for strong connection, support and advocacy for foster carers and the children in their care.
Prior to joining FCAV, Samantha has worked extensively in the Victorian public sector including 5 years as CEO of the Coroners Court of Victoria. Previously Samantha worked for a number of years at the Department of Health and Human Services, including as a senior policy adviser with the Office of Children, Child Protection and Family Services.
Samantha leads the FCAV team in providing support, information and advocacy to Victoria’s foster carer community, while ensuring carers’ experiences and perspectives are represented in discussions about the policies and systems that affect them. She has led FCAV’s continued development as the peak body for foster carers, strengthening its engagement with carers and its relationships across the sector and government, and building an increasingly strong evidence base to inform its advocacy.
