My name is Libby.
I'm a family violence practitioner.
I work at WAYSS Women's Refuge.
The goal of a refuge is, first and foremost safety.
It's about empowering her.
It's about helping with material aid to help them rebuild their lives, to get away from that awful situation. And, it needs to feel like home.
So my background for over 20 years of my working life, I was Production Manager and then my last role for over a decade was a coffee roaster Production Manager.
I loved the fast pace.
I loved the challenge in a male dominated industry.
But I wanted to do something for the community.
I wanted to volunteer somewhere.
So there was a speaking up program, which was a volunteer, sort of an advocacy program.
And then that just ignited something in me that I really felt that my experience in being a victim survivor, I thought that I am the best person for this kind of role.
I'd had no academic education at all, so I had only finished high school.
So my education journey began at Chisholm by completing the undergrad in Community Mental Health and AOD.
It was a massive challenge but I just had a lot of support through work.
Extra study leave, reduced case load.
So I had all the tools and all the support around me to succeed.
The most rewarding thing for me is being that stepping stone that will help them believe that they can move on and rebuild.
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