Monica McKenzie

Monica McKenzie is a Dharawal-Yuin woman and currently resides on Darkinjung Country where she has birthed and raises her two children.

After a decade long career in Education across NSW, Monica now conducts research and evaluation at the University of Newcastle. As a product of public education in NSW and drawing from her owned lived experiences, she believes in the importance of ensuring First Nations stories are told by those in the experience to impact policy and reform.

As a direct descendant of the Stolen Generation and a survivor of the NSW Child Protection System, growing up in Community between Lapa and Redfern and being forcibly removed at the age of 8-years-old whilst experiencing domestic and family violence, her commitment to advocating for children and young people, women and families is strong.

 As she embarks of her PhD journey, her areas of interests lie in education, social justice and historical exclusion, equity and the reimagining of a world where children and young people, women and families are protected and cared for, with love and humility.