CAMPAIGNING & LOBBYING FOR THE SACS INDUSTRY - MEET VP MARIA LEEBEEK

ACHIEVING BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS WHAT DRIVES THE SERVICES UNION’S NEW VICE PRESIDENT (VP) OF THE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (SACS) INDUSTRY, MARIA LEEBEEK.

As Chief Executive Officer at the Gold Coast Youth Service, Maria’s role focuses on giving vulnerable young people, hopeful futures. Her position also requires supporting and leading teams, and planning and collaborating with others on community-based initiatives. The major collaboration is the Gold Coast Homelessness Network where Maria is Chairperson.

Maria started working in the Community Sector after she graduated from the University of Queensland in 1991 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Starting as a Youth Worker, Maria has been employed in a number of roles in her 32-year career from frontline service delivery to policy and advocacy. Maria became a union member as soon as she started working and she has been a member of our Union for almost a decade. “I joined our Union as it represents the interest of workers and by joining together, we can ensure workplace protections and rights,” Maria explained. “Good pay and conditions are essential for a healthy democracy and the wealth of a nation needs to be shared by all, not a few. The Union Movement fights for these basic rights and I love the solidarity that comes with that.”

For many years, Maria has been a very active Delegate representing members in workplaces. She is also a seasoned campaigner and lobbyist for our Union. Not only was she on the frontline in our campaign for Equal Pay, Maria was also recently in Canberra lobbying our Federal MPs to ensure housing and homelessness services had adequate funding. Maria said it can be challenging lobbying those in power, however feels it is very important tell our stories. “It’s important to articulate the importance of the issue,” Maria said. “There’s not always immediate change and it’s not always easy when MPs hold principle positions which are different to yours however, it’s important to always use your voice.”

Maria said she is looking forward to leading our SACS Industry Division Committee. “It’s essential to have a strong, diverse and independent Community Sector in a healthy democracy,” Maria said. “I want to continue to demonstrate the significance of our industry and the importance of decent wages and conditions to be able to deliver quality services.”