JESSICA ADAMS

Conscientious and passionate child protection, domestic violence specialist with over 16 years’ experience in policy and legislation development, as well as operations. I am an admitted solicitor in ACT/NSW, and hold a Bachelor of Science (Psychology), a Bachelor of Laws, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. I am currently permanently employed within the Community Services Directorate (CSD) and have been acting as the Director, Strategic Policy since November 2022. Equipped with a strong ethical foundation, legal background, and dedication to excellence, I navigate complex social policy confidently, aiming to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable people and families.

• In my current role, I am the project led on the reform of the Children and Young People Act 2008. Notably, I have achieved the successful drafting of legislative changes that included establishment of an external merits review mechanism within the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, overcoming significant delays that persisted for years.
• Within my role as the Team Leader of the Case Analysis Team, I successfully initiated a proposal to enhance case analysis activities by increasing the flexibility and scope of our reports; this resulted in increased demand for our services and a 25% increase in output in the 2021/22 FY
• While working as a solicitor at the Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre, over the 2018-19 financial year I provided over 180 legal advices to clients. I received consistent feedback from my supervisor that my advices were of high-quality and that I am an 'asset to the Bathurst Community'.
• Whilst working as a Senior Policy Officer on the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Reforms, I prepared a business case regarding responding to male victims with costings and modelling submitted to NSW Cabinet in early 2016. My bid was successful in receiving a $13 million allocation.
• I drafted business requirements for the statewide computer system receiving domestic data from NSW Police and implemented a state-wide security policy for this system.
• Experienced and dedicated Independent Foster Care Assessor with a proven track record of conducting comprehensive assessments to ensure the well-being and safety of children in foster and kinship care placements.

• Volunteered for the Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre (2017)
• Legal placement within NSW, Department of Communities and Justice, Care Litigation Team (legal services) (2014)
• Secondment to NSW Joint Investigative Response Team (JIRT) the interagency team responsible for responding to criminal child abuse and neglect in NSW (2013)
• Secondment as Policy Officer, Staying Home Leaving Violence Program, NSW Department of Communities and Justice (2011)
• Secondment as Team Leader, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Program, Australian Red Cross (2010)

• STEP-BY-STEP FOSTER CARER ASSESSING (2024) - ASSOCIATION OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES (ACT)
• The Safe & Together™ Model Certification Program (2021)
• EASY ENGLISH TRAINING (2019) - SCOPE
• CERTIFICATE IV IN MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP (2016) - UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY
• IDENTIFYING PRIMARY AGGRESSOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING (2016) - NO TO VIOLENCE - MELBOURNE
• COMPLAINT AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS TRAINING (2016) - NSW OMBUDSMAN
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS – GREG YEE (2011)
• MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID – UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE (2010)
• JIRT FORENSIC INTERVIEWING OF CHILDREN – NSW COMMUNITY SERVICES (2010)
• PREDICTING & MANAGING OCCUPATIONAL VIOLENCE - COMMUNITY SERVICES (2009)
• CASEWORKER DEVELOPMENT COURSE (2008)