Geraldine Edwards

Background

About Geraldine Edwards

After 20 years across the Australian and Victorian public services, I've learnt that good policy starts with good listening, and good communication brings it to life. In an era flooded with conflicting and middling content, storytelling can transform information into meaning that people actually remember and act on. My work sits at the intersection of health, mental health, social services, and justice. I've spent the last decade in policy and engagement roles with the Victorian Department of Health and Department of Justice and Community Safety, leading complex projects that require both analytical rigour and genuine human connection. Before that, I worked briefly as a forensic AOD counsellor, and spent ten years with Centrelink and Medicare, giving me experiences which keep me grounded in the realities of the communities my policy work is meant to serve.My practice is built on my social work education, a discipline that gives me both a deep respect for the complexity of people's lives and a commitment to evidence-informed, human-centred approaches.Some career highlights I'm proud of- Leading a national consultation on lived experiences of ART/IVF, on behalf of all Australian Health Ministers, and informing how sector reform will be implemented- Engaging directly with prisoners on justice policy, which contributed to a relaxation of criminal history barriers to employment in DJCS- Teaching social work students about policy analysis and advocacy, and seeing their passion grow for a topic they had believed to be dry and irrelevant- Watching a minister at a CEDA event deliver a speech I had written for them about the importance of reforming mental health in Victoria- Writing a report for the Victorian Parliament following an evaluation of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws, incorporating lived experience insights, which led to meaningful changes. What sets me apart is using storytelling as a policy tool. I believe the frameworks we use to understand complex social problems, and the narratives we build around them, shape the solutions we can imagine. I'm increasingly drawn to roles and collaborations that take this seriously. I'm open to new opportunities in policy, community consultation, facilitation, and advisory roles across government, the community sector, and consulting. If you're working on something that needs someone who can think strategically, lead with strengths, engage communities authentically, and genuinely loves to write compellingly, I'd love to connect.