In 2008, Maria was appointed by the Federal government to the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. More recently she was appointed to the National Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity and is actively involved in working with the courts to address access to justice for women and children.

In March 2002, Maria was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. Maria is also a recipient of an Amnesty International Human Rights Award for her work on the legal and human rights of women from CALD backgrounds.

She has worked in the sector for over 25 years and has had research published in a range of professional publications and peer reviewed journals including the Feminist Law Journal, Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse, and the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Hear Maria speak in It’s Time We Talked Break Out session, as part of Safety in Numbers.