Influential work
- Led a large-scale review and reform of WA’s child protection and family support system, including the family and domestic violence service system
- Delivered an Aboriginal services and practice framework to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children, families and communities who come into contact with WA’s child protection system
- Co-designed and delivered a secondary services family support approach in WA, the Building Safe and Strong Families Earlier Intervention and Family Support Strategy
- Delivered the Better Care Better Services Out of Home Care five-year reform plan for WA through extensive consultation
- Implemented new operational structures across WA’s child protection effort, including establishing a central intake unit to enable more consistent responses to child protection concerns
- Delivered a five-year proactive social media strategy and managed contentious public policy issues as the media interface.
Outside of Nous
Prior to Nous Emma worked as a front-line social worker in the areas of homelessness and women’s support services within the community services sector. She went on to perform multiple operational leadership roles in state government human service departments in both remote regional and metropolitan locations. Her desire to improve services, policy and life outcomes for individuals, families and communities has led her to take on roles in government, university and development sectors; focusing on efforts on policy development, service improvement and design and building leadership and workforce capability. Most recently Emma spent 14 years in the area of child protection and family support and was the director-general in her last four years of service.
Emma holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and has been an active member of numerous boards and committees in human services over the past two decades.
In her spare time...
Emma loves spending time with family and friends exploring the remote corners of WA. She is learning to draw and adding artwork from emerging Australian artists to her eclectic collection.