Ex-social worker Micaela Cronin is Labor pick for domestic violence job

Labor is appointing former social worker Micaela Cronin as the nation’s inaugural domestic, family and sexual violence commissioner.

Micaela Cronin.

Labor is appointing former social worker Micaela Cronin as the nation’s inaugural domestic, family and sexual violence commissioner to help oversee the government’s national plan aimed at ending violence against women and children within “a generation”.

The move makes Australia one of just three countries in the world to have a national domestic violence commissioner, which will cost $27m to set up and run over five years.

After a career as a family violence social worker and counsellor, Ms Cronin headed up a number of peak advocacy groups, including St Vincent de Paul and the Australian Council of Social Service.

In 2016, she became the global chief executive of Hagar International, a Swiss not-for-profit that works primarily with women and children who survived trafficking and human rights abuses.

“I am deeply committed to addressing and ending violence against women and children in all its forms, and am looking forward to the contribution I will make as commissioner,” Ms Cronin said. “The new National Plan is an ambitious blueprint, but it is a truly national document with collaboration from all jurisdictions and stakeholders. I will take my responsibility for the National Plan’s delivery very seriously.”

It follows the Albanese government in June revealing it had dropped the woman chosen under Scott Morrison for the role, Catherine Fitzpatrick.

Ms Fitzpatrick was selected by then-social services minister Anne Ruston in April two days before the federal election was called, with many domestic violence advocates raising questions over how the recruitment process was carried out.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the commission would review progress against the goals of the National Plan and was a critical part of ending gender-based violence.

“Ms Cronin brings significant leadership and governance experience from across the non- profit sector, which will be incredibly valuable in her role as commissioner,” she said.