Meet the Stride team

Tracey brings over 25 years of experience in NSW's Education and Human Services sectors and is committed to promoting Aboriginal self-determination in all areas of social policy. Commencing her career as a teacher on the south coast of NSW, Tracey has worked in leadership roles in child protection and out-of-home care in the government and non-government sectors. She worked as an independent reviewer on the Family is Culture Review into Aboriginal children in out-of-home care, chaired by Professor Megan Davis, from 2016 until 2019. 

Tracey is a passionate advocate and ally for all children, parents, and families impacted by the child protection system, and actively promotes the role of family and community in children’s lives. She co-founded Shoalhaven Illawarra Families Together (SHIFT) in NSW in 2022. 

Melinda has 25 years of experience in government and non-government sectors in child and family services, disability services, child protection and out-of-home care.  

Melinda has worked in leadership roles in service delivery, quality management, contract management, investigations and reviews, policy development, practice support and service design and evaluation.  

Since 2014, Melinda has led child safe organisation work at Life Without Barriers, driving the We Put Children First child sexual abuse prevention campaign and other initiatives. 

Jessica is a social worker with over 30 years’ experience in child and family social work practice and service design. She is also an experienced social work researcher with interests in family participation and inclusion in child protection and out-of-home care processes including peer parent and family advocacy and support. She has published widely in these areas. Jessica did a Churchill Fellowship exploring family inclusive initiatives in child protection. She was an inaugural Policy Impact Churchill Fellow in 2021.

Jessica has a strong record of collaboration and partnership with parents and family with lived experience of child protection processes. She is the co-founder of Family Inclusion Strategies in the Hunter which promotes family inclusion in child protection and delivers peer parent and family advocacy in a range of settings including the NSW Children's Court.  Jessica is a founding Director of the International Parent Advocacy Network and holds an adjunct academic appointment with the School of Social Work, University of Newcastle.

Jessica leads service design research and innovation in Stride including literature reviews and knowledge translation activities to support the transfer of research to practice.

Suellen joined LWB in 2014 in a national role. She has extensive experience in the delivery and management of interventions and programs, primarily for juvenile offenders in custodial and community environments in Australia and the UK noting these young people often present in both the care and justice systems. Since joining LWB she has also supported program research and interventions for young people in and transitioning from care. Her particular interest and expertise is in the growth and implementation of evidence based programs and practices.

Suellen has written evaluation frameworks and consulted on methodologies for large scale program evaluations and has worked in the area of implementation expertise for a state government agency and for a large NGO in London.

Suellen has held senior management roles in government and non-government organisations and executive positions in government.

Bringing together deep experience in the development of human service programs and organisations and business, Maree enables business units and organisations to unlock innovation and optimise great service. 

Her key skills include strategy and tactics, evaluation, design, appreciative inquiry, and the preparation of compelling pitches. 

Veronica has a BSocWk, MCouns, is a consultant and TCI Instructor with the Residential Childcare Project at Cornell University. As the Manager of Program Implementation for the CARE model in the Stride team, Veronica leads the growth and development of the CARE model in Australia and is a CARE consultant supporting agencies adopting CARE in Australia.

Veronica has over 25 years’ experience working with children and families in diverse settings, including schools, disability services, residential care and child and family therapy. 

Dr Belinda, PhD, supports practice quality at a program and system level. Belinda studied social work and has over 40 years’ experience in the child protection and out-of-home care field.  

Dr Belinda has a particular interest in evidence informed practice, which was the focus of her doctoral study and bridging the ‘know-do gap’. Dr Belinda was led the implementation of CARE in Life Without Barriers in October 2015 and has trained as a CARE Educator and TCI trainer. She now supports other agencies in Australia as a CARE consultant with the Residential Childcare Project. 

Courtney has a BSocWk, is a Practice Consultant, and TCI Instructor with the Residential Childcare Project at Cornell University. Courtney has worked in the Out-of-home care sector in Australia since 2009 across multiple settings including early intervention with families, foster care, residential care and child and family therapy. 

In her previous role at Life Without Barriers, Courtney supported the implementation of CARE and TCI nationally. Courtney has a strong interest in neurodiversity and complex needs and continues to expand her knowledge in this area through post graduate studies in autism studies and mental health.  

Chris Skinner has over 23 years’ experience in child protection and out-of-home care in both government and non-government sectors. As a graduate of the University of Newcastle in Social Science, his experience has ranged from front-line casework, operational management, the support and training of practitioners across the nation and delivering evidence informed programs and practice. 

As a CARE Educator and TCI Trainer, Chris appreciates the opportunities to see practitioners develop, grow and be inspired in good practice. Furthermore, his engaging, humorous and heartfelt approach to the sector he seeks to serve is fuelled by a passion to see children and young people thrive in all that they do.