Sharon Paten is a proud Gunai/Kurnai woman with over thirty-five years working with, and for the Victorian Aboriginal community in strategic policy development and implementation, organisational management and executive roles in family violence and Aboriginal Reform.
As CEO, Sharon was responsible for leading Aboriginal Housing Victoria from a small not-for-profit, Government funded advisory body to a Housing Provider with a portfolio of over 1,300 properties across the state of Victoria.
As the Aboriginal Portfolio Manager, Victoria Police Sharon led Aboriginal Affairs reform work including the provision of strategic advice to Executive Command and representation at relevant forums and cross government meetings, as well as supporting the organisation meet its commitments under whole of government frameworks.
At Family Safety Victoria, Sharon became the first Aboriginal Director appointed to lead Dhelk Dja Safe Our Way, supporting the Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum and its members deliver on the 10 Year Plan and ensuring that family violence services and supports align with the principles of self-determination. As Executive Director, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Sharon developed a reform agenda that brought alignment across the department for delivering on Closing the Gap priorities.
As a recently appointed Elder/Respected Person for the Koorie Courts, Sharon is committed to working with participants to acknowledge and address the underlying issues leading to their offending and strengthen their relationships to local Aboriginal communities to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system as victims and offenders.