Tricia Malowney OAM

Ms Tricia Malowney brings her life experience with polio and post-polio syndrome to her many faceted and constant works on behalf of women with disabilities. Her health issues forced her retirement from the Victoria Police at the age of 46, and left her reliant on callipers, crutches and occasionally a wheelchair.

Tricia has championed citizenship rights for women with disabilities, engaging with women to identify their issues, provide support and explore options for resolution with any systemic issues that are getting in their way. Tricia takes every opportunity to speak to women with disabilities about their lives, and uses their stories to inform her work.

Tricia's formal roles include Convenor of the former Women with Disabilities Network during its transition to becoming Women with Disabilities Victoria, which has now become a systemic advocacy leader as a result of her leadership. She is a foundation member and former Chair of the Board of Women with Disabilities Victoria; inaugural and current President of the Disability Services Board, Chair of Housing Resource and Support Service; Deputy Chair of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council; and a board member of Women's Health East, Scope and the Road Based Public Transport Advisory Council. She provides systemic advocacy advice to Outlook in Pakenham on a consultancy basis.

Tricia founded, and is now Chair of, the Royal Women's Hospital Disability Reference Group. This is the first of its kind in an acute health care setting, whose primary focus is to advocate, facilitate and promote best practice in healthcare for women with disabilities.

Tricia is highly respected in the local, national and international sector as an informed and knowledgeable advocate with extensive experience in influencing government and community service organisations.