About

“Ultimately, by blending expertise, lived experience, compassion, and personalised support, SaferSteps strives to bring positive change into the lives of neurodivergent children and families, the marginalised and the vulnerable, and create a more inclusive and protected world for all.”

Kellene is a neurodivergent Childhood Trauma and Family Domestic Violence advocate based in Australia. Kellene is an accredited Protective behaviours Practitioner.

If any of the content below causes distress, please reach out to a trusted person or to lifeline at 13 11 14. Your well-being is important to me.

Kellene is a Childhood Trauma, Family and Domestic Violence Advocate and an Accredited Protective Behaviours Practitioner. Kellene has a special interest in working with neurodivergent children, families, marginalised and vulnerable communities and those who work alongside them.

As an Autistic woman who has distinct lived experience of Complex Post Traumatic Stress, Chronic pain and other vulnerabilities, Kellene is passionate about improving social and equity outcomes for those who require their voices to be elevated in an environment often in which they are not heard.

Kellene is also an experienced Governance and Policy professional with over ten years experience in management and advisory roles. Kellene has worked alongside organisations with a strong emphasis on social justice issues. Kellene interprets regulatory standards, legislation and has achieved accreditations for large organisations.

Kellene is culturally competent and empathetic in her practice, where she walks the walk alongside those she represents. Kellene is an advocate, an activist, and an ally.

Kellene has worked in remote First Nations health and policy in leadership roles. Kellene has co-designed advocacy courses, sat on forensic task forces and is a published columnist.

Kellene’s ability and sheer will to show up with empathy, trauma sensitivity and cultural competence is what makes her stand out as a professional. Kellene’s intent is to break cycles of injustice and dismantle what she has coined as the avalanche of trauma that occurs in many of our lives.

Kellene’s definition of inclusion is shaped by her lived experiences and this uniquely shapes how she practices as an accredited Protective Behaviours Practitioner and as an advocate.

Kellene is supported by Advisors who have lived experience and qualifications; including First Nations Advisors, LGBTQIA+ Advisors, Victim-Survivors, humans from diverse backgrounds and those who may identify as neurodivergent, vulnerable, and marginalised.

What Qualifications does Kellene hold?

Accredited Safe and Together Core
Extensive lived experience
Degree in Politics and International Studies Murdoch University
Studies in Sociology and Psychology
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from ACAP continuing
Postgraduate Diploma in Domestic and Family Violence Practice from CQU
Refresher – Accredited Protective Behaviours Practitioner
Identifying & Responding to Adult Sexual Violence & Child Sexual Abuse in FDV
Coercive Control
Safe and Together core training (FDV, Phoenix Institute)
Training in Mapping Perpetrator patterns and Interrupting Male Violence
Certificate in Government Investigations
Internal Auditor certification
Workplace Training and Assessment qualification
QIP and AGPAL accreditation subject matter expert
Peer Support training
Knowledge in Critical Perspectives of Child Exploitation & Abuse, Stalking, and Intimate Family Violence
Completed Schema Therapy Course 1
Intentional Disclosure Training
Governance and Not for Profit integrity certification
Cert IV in Juvenile Justice Statutory Protection and Social Welfare
Expertise in Risk Management
Trained in Public Interest Disclosure and Governance Leadership
and more.

Kellene is a mother to three young Yindjibarndi children (Roebourne Country). Kellene is committed to breaking the avalanche of trauma that occurred in her childhood, which contributed to the early and sudden death of her twin sister, Janette. Kellene hopes to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma in her life and practices conscious parenting in the best way she can.

Kellene is a survivor of an aggravated sexual assault at the age of five years of age, child trafficking, and every type of abuse by her biological parents. Kellene grew up in a home of significantly unsafe environments, abject poverty, and serious neglect. Kellene’s childhood consisted of severe Family and Domestic Violence (FDV), substance use, and a lack of protection from family and the institutions that should have provided safety.

Renowed Author and Podcaster Bill Mitchell Provided Commentary on Kellene’s Podcast Interview.

“This interview comes with all the trigger warnings.

Kellene lives in Australia, but her story could have taken place anywhere in teh world. The treatment Kellene and her twin sister received as babies continued into their teen years. It is shocking, disturbing, inhumane, and frankly impossible to comprehend. But it is true. Nonetheless.

This is Domestic Violence at its ugliest.

The redeeming facet about Kellene’s story is how it never managed to break her. her generous spirit can be witnessed here. She somehow was able to find a way to live through it all and took a heroic path in life.

This is Kellene’s Story.”

Renowed Author and Podcaster Bill Mitchell Provided Commentary on Kellene’s Podcast Interview.

“This interview comes with all the trigger warnings.

This is Domestic Violence at its ugliest.

Acknowledgment of Country

SaferSteps WA acknowledges the traditional owners of the land; the Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar and pay respect to their Elders both past and present.

SaferSteps acknowledges and apologises to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia for the injustices and trauma suffered as a result of European settlement, the Stolen Generation and other policies, such as the forced removal of children from their families, communities, culture and land.

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