Advancing social justice through equality, support and advocacy
Elected Body member Kaylene McLeod’s work is in advancing social justice through equality, supporting marginalised grass-roots groups and advocating for all matters relating to our people locally, nationally and internationally.
Her portfolio responsibility is in Justice and Community Safety (JACS). She spent some time recently yarning with the ACT Government department responsible for JACS about the community’s aspirations in this challenging area and what it would take to get better outcomes for our people.
‘Please understand that the policies and services you are developing or delivering have an impact on lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,’ says Kaylene.
‘It is imperative that culturally appropriate policies and practices are developed in consultation with First Nations people.
‘Decisions, or the design of policies, programs and funding arrangements, should always be consulted with the appropriate people and those with authority to speak on behalf of their people, families and community.’
Kaylene was elected to the ATSIEB in mid-2024 and is keen to use her position to ensure First Nations voices and lived experiences are heard and accepted.
A proud Wodi Wodi/Wandandian and Monero woman from the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community located in Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast, Kaylene has 25 years’ experience working in Indigenous affairs, including as the Executive Director of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council.
She has also been heavily involved in volunteering and charity work through the NSW Rural Fire Service and through her family charity, Mcleod’s Angels, which provided much needed meals and practical support to people in Canberra, Jervis Bay and on the NSW north coast during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
‘I pride myself in serving the community, in one way or another,’ Kaylene says.
‘My parents imparted in me and my siblings to always remember who you are and where you came from. I have carried that mindset through my personal and professional careers.’
As well as her parents’ influence her passion for social justice and helping her community is shaped by her own experiences.
‘I am also a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and social justice to me is about respecting human rights and implementing equality, so being Aboriginal and a part of the rainbow community plays a huge part in my life culturally, personally, and professionally,’ Kaylene says.
‘I come from a long line of staunch men and women that have taught me the importance of justice, equality, and fairness.’
It’s these values that she wants to see JACS build on as it works with community to improve justice and community safety policies, programs and services.
She sees a culture of striving for continuous improvement within JACS and the ACT Government and believes change is at the forefront of the work that is being delivered.
However, she sees a real need for cultural safety needs to be embedded within the justice system to ensure First Nations people are safe whilst in custody.
‘Systemic changes need to be actioned to change the culture and the operational environment of JACS,’ Kaylene says.
‘There are still barriers to making real improvement for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, particularly in the amount of red tape, identification of service delivery gaps, the amount of duplication and repetitiveness, and a lack of funding and resources.’
Another area for improvement is in addressing systemic issues such as racism, conscious/unconscious bias, and the decolonisation of systems and practices, particularly in the justice space.
And addressing this challenge means being open to doing things differently.
‘How governments measure success or failure will not be the same way community measures success of failure,’ Kaylene says.
‘Recognise that as public servants the tools you use such as KPIs, templates and reporting mechanisms don’t help us (the community) see benefits.
‘Presenting data, government jargon, statistics and analytics etc can be very foreign to some communities and physically seeing changes/benefits can help us feel more comfortable to measure success and the impacts it has on our lives.’
Kaylene wants government to consider the knowledge and culture that is being shared from community to make sure processes are going to be beneficial for both government and community.
‘And most importantly, be respectful and willing to learn cultural ways of doing things,’ she says.
‘Look at the engagement from every angle and the personal impact. For example, consider if what you are doing is going to change people’s lives for the better.’
To contact the ATSIEB and Kaylene on matters relating to JACS, use our contact form.
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