Patricia Malowney

Patricia (Tricia) Malowney OAM believes that access to transport is a key social determinant of health and essential for accessing education, employment, society and full citizenship as required by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability to which Australia is a signatory. Tricia knows that providing accessible transport empowers people with disabilities. As a woman with a disability, she understands why her community needs full access to all services that others take for granted.

Tricia was recently appointed the inaugural Chief Accessibility Advocate to the Department of Transport in Victoria to amplify the voices of people with disabilities. Reporting to the Secretary, Tricia can work not only with Department staffs but with train, tram, bus and taxi providers and their disability reference groups. She also can have input into the development of new projects and to facilitate conversations with people with disabilities and older Victorians who may have difficulty accessing transport. Tricia is particularly interested in end-to-end journeys and barriers. It is not just public transport, but also community transport and the pathways to transport. Believing in the compounding nature of disadvantage, Tricia has been collaborating with Departmental staff responsible for elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQI, Multicultural communities and ensuring women’s safety within the Department. The key to Tricia’s success in this role is her ability to use her communication skills to bring together the disability community, families, the disability service sector and transport providers to ensure that co-design is a reality.

Tricia was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (General Division) in 2017 and inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2013. Both were awarded for her work in empowering other people with disabilities.

Tricia holds a bachelor degree in Anthropology and Criminology from Latrobe University.