Marea Ruddy

Background

About Marea Ruddy

I’m a Councillor at Orange City Council, a community-driven leader, and the founder of AccessLife Support Services—a proudly female-led, neurodivergent-informed disability support provider. Everything I do is guided by a deep belief in equity, compassion, and the power of people working together to create meaningful change. As a mum, a volunteer, a business owner, and an advocate, I bring lived experience into every space I show up in—whether that’s in chambers, on the sideline of my kids’ footy games, or at the front of a community rally. I don’t just believe in change—I work for it. In the past few years, I’ve helped drive conversations around domestic and family violence, mental health, accessibility, and safe, inclusive spaces for all. Through my business and council work, I advocate for people whose voices are too often left out of decision-making, and I’m committed to making systems fairer, services better, and communities stronger. I’m also fiercely neuro-affirming, feminist, and a little bit relentless when I care about something (which is often). If you’re someone working on community building, inclusive services, or grassroots leadership—I’d love to connect.