Stella Braund uses her lived experience of childhood family violence, sexual assault and trauma – at home and in institutional settings – to improve people's lives.
As a counsellor, Stella helped establish 1800 RESPECT, the national domestic violence and sexual assault helpline, enabling vulnerable individuals to access crisis counselling and begin their journey of recovering from violence.
She has worked across four psychiatric inpatient hospitals advocating for trauma informed care, ensuring people living with mental ill health – and their carers and families – have access to appropriate, person-centred support services.
Stella continues to seek improvements in mental health policy, planning, emergency services and service design throughout SA Health, campaigning for a greater lived experience workforce.
She’s a powerful advocate for marginalised and vulnerable people, and holds numerous executive board appointments across government.
For her commitment, Stella was recognised as a South Australian Citizen of the Year and is on the Women’s Honour Roll.