4 April 1952 ~ 14 February 2010
Carol Peltola dedicated her life to improving the lives of vulnerable people in the community, particularly children and young people.
Carol was an outstanding communicator and an inspiring leader, with vast experience in both the public and non-government sectors. She was an invaluable member of Life Without Barriers' Board, which she joined in the late 1990s. As a Board member, Carol helped us to develop and articulate our values as a small organisation, and held us to account for maintaining those values as we grew.
A clinical psychologist, Carol devoted over 30 years to improving child safety throughout Australia, using her intellect, integrity, compassion and connections, along with her strong vision, to bring about change at Government and grassroots levels. She helped Indigenous communities in urban, rural and remote areas to find solutions to complex problems including substance abuse, domestic violence, self-harm, child abuse and neglect, and mental illness. In doing this Carol always maintained a great humility and was known for never making anyone feel small.
As a selfless community advocate, Carol contributed many hours of volunteer work throughout her years. She visited older people living in aged care facilities, providing friendship and support. She also visited prisoners, speaking with them about their experiences and making sure their rights were upheld. In 2008, Carol was appointed Chair of the Palm Island Community Council. Her well-established skills in working with communities and empowering them to find solutions to their own problems made her a highly valued and effective Chair.
Much of Carol's career was spent in senior public service roles, and she was known and respected for always focussing on the wellbeing of children and families. This meant that Carol made sacrifices and sometimes limited her career to do the right thing. This sometimes came at a considerable cost to Carol, but for her, it was worth it.
Some of Carol's greatest achievements were the changes she led in NSW in the areas of child protection and out-of-home care, including the introduction of the Children and Young Persons (Child Protection) Act in 1998, and the shift to evidence-based practice. This was a philosophical and practice shift towards improved decision-making and better practice in child protection.
In Western Australia, Carol brought her significant expertise and experience to bear on the Gordon Inquiry into family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities. Carol's passion for life affected all those around her. She was a loving and committed mother to three daughters, as well as an active and involved grandmother to four grandchildren.
Through her work, Carol made a real difference in the lives of thousands of children and families, and left Australia a better place. We are proud to have known Carol and privileged to have worked with her. Carol is irreplaceable
in our lives and our community.
To donate to the Life Without Barriers Carol Peltola Children's Research Fund
click here