Our community is facing difficult challenges, with some of them being a driving force for division. Disappointingly, some Councillors have avoided making difficult decisions for years, which has helped to create our current financial woes. We need Councillors who will act with courage and openness so that the community is informed, and properly listened to, well before important or difficult decisions are made.

My working life has been diverse - I've been a Primary School Teacher, a shopworker, a shop owner, a Legal Secretary, a University Lecturer at CSU, and a Practicing Psychologist working with children and their families. I have a diploma in Business Studies, and an Advanced Certificate in Personnel Management, along with my teaching qualifications and psychology degree.

I have raised two children as a single mother, and I am a survivor of domestic abuse. I understand the challenges that families and businesses are facing at the moment, and I'm a big believer in community consultation, which is why I chose to be part of a party that's all about grassroots involvement.

As your Greens candidate you can be sure that I will act with integrity and authenticity, that I will stand up against vested interests, and that I will work for the wellbeing of our community and the region we call home. Having a Greens voice on Council will broaden the perspective when policies are being formulated, and I will always be guided by the four pillars of the Greens movement: grassroots democracy, ecological sustainability, social justice, and peace and non-violence.

Financial, environmental, and social sustainability are key issues. As your representative I will focus on responsible financial management while still providing leadership on important environmental and social justice issues facing the community. There are many aspects to environmental sustainability, especially in the face of climate change, but for Bathurst, I believe the most important and urgent is that of our water supply as the city grows, and the world gets hotter. Finally, social sustainability includes finding innovative solutions for grassroots problems, including cost of living, housing, parking, health care, domestic violence, and social disadvantage. All of these will be high on my list of priorities as I represent the best interests of the Bathurst community.

I'm convinced that local knowledge is an essential ingredient for finding solutions to local problems, and, with the help of the excellent team of women who are supporting me, I would advocate for solutions that would give Bathurst a more secure future. My broad range of professional and personal experiences will be a great asset towards achieving that goal.