VACRO is thrilled to announce the appointment of Abigail Lewis as our new Senior Policy & Advocacy Advisor. 

Abigail joins VACRO after three years at think tank Per Capita, where she worked across social policy research, advocacy, and communications – publishing research and advocating on policy topics including housing and homelessness, unemployment, and social and economic security.  

VACRO CEO Marius Smith said Abigail’s experience with issues facing people experiencing disadvantage would improve outcomes for VACRO’s program participants.   

“Abigail’s successful track record advocating on issues that directly affect our participants puts VACRO in the best possible position to push for systemic changes that will make a difference to the lives of the people we work with.”

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Key points:

• Abigail Lewis has started as VACRO’s Senior Policy & Advocacy Advisor 
• This role was created to advocate for systemic change that helps improve circumstances and opportunities for the people we work with
• VACRO’s policy work calls for fewer people going to prison, better treatment for the people who are in prison, and stronger support when a person is released 

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Abigail’s work leading Per Capita’s housing and homelessness advocacy directly contributed to commitments to fund social housing in the state government’s 2020 budget and the federal opposition’s 2020 budget reply. 

She has previously project managed the Refugee Council of Australia’s submission to the Global Compact on Refugees and its annual conference, and worked in not-for-profit fundraising and as a journalist covering social policy. 

Abigail said she was looking forward to expanding VACRO’s capacity for strategic advocacy and centring lived experience in our policy work.  

“I’m excited to work in an organisation engaged in frontline service delivery, with access to the policy expertise that is only held by practitioners and people with lived experience – expertise that has the best chance of success in shifting policy,” she said. 

“The goal is to place VACRO as a trusted voice on criminal justice policy, driven by strong data and research capabilities, effective advocacy strategies, and the voices of those with lived experience.” 

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More information 

• VACRO media contact – Angela Smith, 0498 666 016 or [email protected] 
• More information about VACRO’s policy work