Shaping a Better Future for Vulnerable Families

Deb Tsorbaris has over 35 years of experience in the not-for-profit and public sectors and has held executive positions in organisations working in youth services, disability support, homelessness assistance, drug and alcohol services, and employment. Before joining the Centre, Deb held senior executive positions in the Victorian State Government.

Deb provides policy leadership to both state and federal governments and makes significant contributions to the child and family services sector. She has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration among government and community sectors to support organisations working with children and families. In recognition of her outstanding work with children, families, and organisations that support them, Deb was honoured with the prestigious Robin Clark Leadership Award in 2022.

Furthermore, Deb serves as the Board Chair of Families Australia, the national peak body for families, leading the board in representing over 800 member organisations across Australia. She is the co-chair of the National Strategy Advisory Group provides regular advice and input on the implementation of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030. She also serves on the Board of the Brian M Davis Charitable Trust.

Can you describe your career trajectory and how you ended up at the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare?

Like many people I started out doing voluntary work in school. My first experience was in a residential home for children with disabilities in my hometown of Luton. Looking back that early experience opened my eyes to the lives of children and families very different from my own.
When my family migrated to Australia, my mum became a family group home cottage mother — essentially a live-in foster carer — so I grew up around children in care. After finishing school, I worked in large Victorian institutions where children with disabilities lived. I trained in general nursing at the Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne, but was looking for other opportunities.

I reconnected with colleagues who were moving people with disability out of institutions into group homes and quickly found myself working in that field. It was the start of what became a lifelong commitment to social policy, children, and families.I spent about 15 years at Melbourne City Mission, eventually becoming Regional Director of the West and Inner City, managing programs across employment, homelessness, and children’s services. While on the board of Council to Homeless Persons, I was asked to step in as CEO for a year. That was my first experience in peak body and policy work, and I caught the bug.

I went on to work at the Salvation Army’s national office, then returned to Council to Homeless Persons as CEO for six and a half years. Later, I was invited into the Department of Housing, first as Executive Advisor and then as Executive Director overseeing housing policy, homelessness, family violence, public housing rents, and more — an enormous operation. I had lots of opportunities in the department over a range of roles, but new opportunities came along and in 2013 I joined the Centre. At the time, it was very small, with just four staff. It needed new direction, and together with our members we have rebuilt it into a strong peak body for children — for out-of-home care and for all children and families more broadly.

What inspired you to do the work you do?

School was a big influence. Schools get you thinking about others and about giving of yourself. That first voluntary role at 13 made me independent and gave me confidence. Looking back, I realise my working life started with children, even before I fully recognised it.
I’ve always felt that we need as many people as possible reminding us — not just government, but all of us — that we can make children’s lives better. For me, it’s about being real. I’m not interested in just talking about change. I want to see what will actually make a real difference.

What issues are firing you up at the moment?

I think we’re at a point where we can be more considered about children, wherever they are. They’re smart, they want to contribute to a better world, and we need to find ways to engage them. I want to see earlier intervention for children and families across government.
Right now, families often have to navigate multiple systems to get the help they need, and that’s not fair. Children shouldn’t have to use services that are designed for adults. If a family can’t get a home and risks losing their children, that should be dealt with immediately. The priority should be keeping families together.
I’ve been encouraged recently meeting politicians who are listening and open to big structural change. I think we may finally see shifts that ensure resources are directed quickly and effectively to vulnerable children and families.

If you could go back to your 13-year-old self — or to yourself at the start of your career — what advice would you give?

Don’t be afraid. As a young woman, I often lacked the confidence to speak up. We need older women to bring younger women into the room sooner — not hold them back. Younger women have great ideas and energy, and they’ll take the mantle forward, tackling challenges even more complex than those of my time.
For me, advocacy gave me a voice. I always feel like I haven’t done enough — and that’s the sign of a good advocate. I’ll keep doing this until I die. That drive came from my mother, who instilled a spirit of service and grace. Too many people suffer unnecessarily, and we can’t sit back and let that happen.
I still remember a little boy I cared for when I was just 13 and the impact his life had on mine. Those memories never leave you, and they shape who you are.

Do you have a motto or words you live by?

I have patience. I can keep going for a long time to get the change I know is needed. Policy takes persistence, and I can wait and work at it. But I also celebrate the wins. I’m known to punch the air and say, “Yes, we did it!” We can be very hard on ourselves, but it’s important to acknowledge progress and celebrate all of the little achievements. That mix of patience, persistence, self-belief, and joy in the wins — that’s what keeps me going.