MsVanessa Turnbull-Roberts

Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts is a proud Bundjalung Widubul-Wiabul Woman and advocate for Human Rights. Vanessa is a lawyer, writer, storyteller and survivor of the Family Policing System (also known as the foster ‘care’ system) in Australia. where she was forcibly removed at the age of 10 1/2. Vanessa continues to drive national discourse in the area of human rights, children rights and justice for Indigenous people. Vanessa took out the Australian Human Rights medal awarded by the Australian Human rights commission which her acceptance speech saw global recognition and responses. This award was recognising the advocacy and work Vanessa continues to do for Human Rights globally and nationally in Australia.

Vanessa is also a 2023 Fulbright scholar where she is building international and national relationships in the field of human rights, and is a recognised speaker and media commentator globally and domestically here in Australia. Vanessa is also completing her PhD at the University of Technology where her research is centred around decolonising child protection in the lives of First Nations people.

Vanessa advises on policy and legalisation on the rights of Indigenous people and provides advice to organisations and government on best practice.


Vanessa continues to develop new approaches to co-design and enhancing self-Determination for First Nations people, in particular around new models of care and practice. Using her personal and professional knowledge in the field Vanessa is passionate about creating opportunities and change that better meet the needs of First Nations practices.