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Experience

Paula signed the bar roll in 1997 practising in family law, family violence and Children’s Court matters.

She left the bar to work in the family violence sector. Paula held managerial roles at InTouch, the Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence and the Eastern Domestic Violence Service. From 2019 to 2022, she was CEO of Refuge Victoria, the largest family violence refuge service in Victoria accommodating a thousand people per year with 50 staff and an annual budget of $6 million.

She re-signed the bar roll in July 2022 resuming her practice bringing a deep and broad understanding of the family violence sector. She is also a qualified and experienced Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Paula believes in giving back to the community and has held numerous governance roles including serving as:

• Non-Executive Director of the RACV 2006 to 2015
• Director and Chair of the RACV Community Foundation 2009-2017
• School Council Secretary and President of her children’s primary school 2010-2014
• Director and Chair of the Eastern Domestic Violence Service 2010-2016
• Local Government Councillor for the City of Manningham 2016-2020
• Mayor of the City of Manningham 2018-19

She is married with three children and the sister of the renowned Australian artist, Patricia Piccinini.