Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts

Vanessa is an advocate for Human Rights, a lawyer, and has recently been appointed as the Inaugural Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. From experiences in Out Of Home Care and facing injustices to becoming a Commissioner, Vanessa has devoted her life to empowering Indigenous self-determination and fighting for justice for First Nations people and children in Australia and worldwide. Vanessa is a highly accomplished professional with a strong background in advocating for human rights, particularly focusing on First Nations children and young people, global Indigenous rights, and transnational solidarity. She holds qualifications in Law, Social Work, and First Class Honours. Vanessa is also a Fulbright Scholar who actively builds connections on international and national levels in the realm of human rights, particularly focusing on Indigenous communities. Additionally, she is a doctoral researcher in the field of Law and Children's Rights concerning Family Policing and Statutory Out Of Home Care.