Cathy Broderick is a social worker currently working in Newcastle, Australia. Cathy has been working within the welfare system since 1996. Over the years Cathy has worked with a wide and diverse range of services and client groups. Cathy has also been an active member within the community volunteering for Lifeline, Red Cross, Salvation Army and Scouts clubs.

Cathy received employment in Honiara, Solomon Island where she worked for Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) as a project Officer working on a community development project focusing on enhancing the quality of life for children with visual disability. Her role was to provide education and support to children, parents, families and communities, organise community awareness days, seek donations and funds would ensure the inclusion and participation of all children with a visional disability.

During Cathy’s time in the Solomon Islands, management within the Ministry of Health requested her to work alongside nursing staff to provide a more holistic discharge of patients and to support and strengthen the social welfare department. Cathy was able to see big gaps between poor, vulnerable people, with the majority of these being children and women.

Cathy’s time within Solomon Islands saw her become an active participant in consultations and workshops, She assisted in writing a Solomon Islands Bill of Family and Children Violence, and designed a training manual for social welfare staff, on child protection and skills required in conducting investigating assessments.

Cathy is a very proud social worker and her personal values and beliefs are similar to social justice principles which social work study is based on. She has always been passionate about human rights, in particular the rights of children and women on an international level.