Professor Maria Harries AM

Professor Maria Harries AM is Adjunct Professor at Curtin University and a Senior Honorary Research Fellow in Social Work and Social Policy in the School of Population Health at The University of Western Australia.

Her 45-year professional career has been dedicated to assisting children and families, particularly in relation to mental health and trauma associated with their experiences of abuse and violence. She has numerous publications in child protection/public policy.

Maria has a long history in governance roles and was the inaugural Chair of the MercyCare juridical body covering the health, aged care and welfare services previously conducted by the Mercy Sisters in Perth.

Prior to this she established and oversaw the work of an independent organisation funded by the Christian Brothers. This service addressed the needs of former child migrants who had been sent to Australia as unaccompanied minors as well as providing support to other adults who as children had been in institutional care.