A tribute to women advancing child safety

Honouring 2 Victorian advocates on International Women's Day.

Published:
Thursday 5 March 2026 at 10:43 am
A flat-style illustration of three women in profile against a purple background, representing diverse ethnicities. From left to right: a woman with long auburn hair and a white drop earring wearing a blue top; a woman wearing a blue head wrap and large circular earring in an orange top; and a woman with long dark hair, round glasses, and a white earring in a brown top.

Trigger warning: includes references to child injuries and deaths that some may find distressing.

Kerrie Shearer lost her 3-year-old grandson Lincoln when he became tangled in a blind cord in a rental home.

After learning that one or 2 Australian children were dying in similar incidents each year, she turned her grief into action. Along with others, Kerrie campaigned for change.

From 1 December 2025, all rental properties in Victoria must have secured cords on internal window coverings. This stops them forming loops that could trap children.

Allison Burns OAM also knows this pain. She lost her 14-month-old daughter Isabella after she swallowed a button battery. Since then, Allison has become a powerful voice for change, raising awareness about the deadly risks button batteries pose to children.

Her advocacy has helped drive world-leading reform and stronger protections. Consumer Affairs Victoria credits her with inspiring its zero-tolerance approach to the mandatory safety standards and its elevation of product safety as a regulatory priority.

This International Women's Day, we honour Kerrie and Allison and the lasting impact they have made.

To make your home safer:

Consumer Affairs Victoria is part of the Department of Government Services.

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