Mahlia is a proud Ngarigo and Darkinjung woman from Sydney, Australia. She is deeply passionate about empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people particularly those impacted by child protection systems. In 2024 she graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts and Social Work First Class Honours. She has casework experience at the NSW Government Department of Communities and Justice and youth-based NGOs. Mahlia’s social work practice grounds her understanding of the implications policies can have on the experiences of children and families. Since graduating, she has been employed as a Research Fellow in the Child Protection Advocacy Hub, at Jumbunna Research Institute UTS. In this role, she supports the development of Aboriginal community-led research, policy reform initiatives and family advocacy. She is interested in social policies impacting children and families and Indigenous people’s rights to self-determination. Mahlia is a Charlie Perkins Chevening scholar.