Since 2009, Terese Edwards has championed single-mother families in Australia, playing a key role in social security reform that benefited over 100,000 families in its first year. She successfully campaigned against the ParentsNext program and pushed for the escaping domestic violence payment whilst improvements to childcare access for single mothers are on the horizon.
Currently, Terese highlights the $1.8 Billion owed in child support with a Fix Child Support campaign and crafting a national initiative to value and reframe the dialogue surrounding single motherhood. She is bold, has called on the United Nations to assess Australia’s treatment of these families, and is working with Glasgow University on an international initiative.
A member of the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, she was recognised in the South Australia Women’s Honour Roll in 2023 and awarded the Hesta Unsung Hero in 2019. With a master’s degree and a PhD in progress, she connects daily with women, particularly those lacking safety and economic security, which fuels her dedication to her cause.