About us

The Politics of Social Change Foundation (POSC) is committed to redressing women’s inequality and disadvantage.

  • We are registered with ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments commission) as a public company limited by guarantee.
  • We have 5 Board members. Gabrielle Hyslop is Company Secretary.
  • We are registered as a charity with ACNC (Australia Charities and Not-for-profits Commission).
  • The ATO (Australian Tax Office) acknowledges that we are not liable for GST or to pay tax on our funds. We do not have tax deductibility status of our own.
  • We are a preferred donor with NFAW (National Foundation for Australian Women) which means people can donate to POSC through NFAW and receive receipts for tax deductible donations (preferably over $50 but lower amounts are accepted).
  • NSW Fair Trading – Our application for a Charitable Fundraising Authority has been approved and we are therefore authorised to appeal to the public for funds, subject to the obligations set out in the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 (the Act), the Charitable Fundraising Regulation 2015 and certain conditions.

Our Board members

Sally Trevena

I have a multi-disciplinary background with specialist skills in the area of web design and management, community engagement, planning, dispute resolution, complaints management and project management I have over 30 years’ experience in government in a range of professional and management positions in Immigration and Multi-Cultural Affairs, Aboriginal Affairs and Housing and Homelessness.

 

My political activism is based on the pursuit of equality, fairness and social justice, recognising that feminism is central to any real and lasting change. I have BA, Sydney, Grad Dip., Adult Education, UTS., and Master of Dispute Resolution, Hons. UTS

Alison Churchill

Throughout history women have worked collectively to create social impact and drive societal change. Whilst collaboration is often a key to sustainable change, it is also good to recognise the individual women whose dreams, inspiration and tenacity have lead the charge. I hope through my position on the POSCF Board I can contribute to increasing the recognition of eminent women and encourage and support young women to step into roles that will positively impact social justice, human rights and equality. Growing up in Thatcherite Britain I learnt the harsh reality of neoliberalism. The dismantling of the welfare state, destruction of social housing, the resurgence of child poverty, the roll back of education and health services, increased isolation within the community and a massive set back in women’s equality.

 

During my late teens I became involved in feminist politics, which I have carried with me throughout my life participating in many campaigns and affirmative action, championing the rights of women. My working life has included a range of roles in women’s and youth services, a ten year term as a sexual assault counselor with homeless young people, and two decades working with men and women on the margins of society who have become involved in the criminal justice system. I look forward to being part of POSCF’s and look forward to celebrating the work of women.

Deirdre Hyslop

I’ve worked towards social justice from my earliest days, battling the odds at school first as a student then as a teacher. My interest in women’s history lead to honours studies on Australian women illustrators of children’s books, then post-graduate study on women in fifteenth-century Italy. For over twenty years I worked in the criminal justice system, teaching at Long Bay, then in a range of other roles including seven years as Principal Advisor Women Offenders.

 

Post-retirement from the government, I have been thrilled to take on the role of Director of the Miranda Project that provides alternatives to custody for women in NSW. The establishment of the project was made possible by funding from Ann Symonds and Elizabeth Evatt, two women who are a constant inspiration and wonderful role models. In working to address women’s inequality, I aim beyond equality.

Dr Kath McFarlane

Associate Professor Kath McFarlane is based at the Centre for Law and Justice at Charles Sturt University (CSU). She previously held a variety of policy roles in bureaucracy and politics, including as a senior policy officer in the Attorney Generals’ Department, Executive Officer of the NSW Sentencing Council, and Executive Officer of the NSW Children’s Court. Between 2011 – 2015 she was Chief of Staff to a NSW Minister across numerous portfolios inc FaCS and Attorney General and Justice.

 

Kath’s research examines the impacts and outcomes of institutionalisation, specifically, the links between the Out-Of-Home-Care and criminal justice systems. She has conducted research for a range of NSW government agencies, including the Department for Women, Family and Community Services, Corrections Health, the Department of Justice, and the NSW Children’s Guardian.

John Murray

John Murray received an Australian Human Rights Award (HREOC) for his work on institutional abuse and institutionalization in 2004. He has worked as an advisor to several members of the NSW Parliament, and is the former coordinator of the international coalition ‘The No New Women’s Prison’ (NNWPC), which successfully lobbied for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the NSW Prison system (2000).

 

John has been on the management committees of social justice organisations, and was the inaugural non-Indigenous vice-president of the Indigenous Social Justice Association, which in 2013 was shortlisted for the Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de L’Homme (National Advisory Commission Human Rights CNCDH) Human Rights Award.