Bachelor of Science (Northumberland Uni)
Bachelor of Social Work (UniSA)

Maria’s distinguished career began in Brunei, where she was awarded the prestigious Shell Scholarship to pursue her tertiary education in the United Kingdom. Upon graduating, Maria commenced her professional journey with Brunei Shell, where she gained extensive experience across Human Resources, Public Affairs, and Training.

After relocating to Adelaide from London, Maria joined the Department of Education, where she played a vital role in supporting refugee families and assisting them in navigating local systems and services. Recognising the critical importance of culturally responsive care and community support, Maria pursued postgraduate studies in Social Work at the University of South Australia, further strengthening her expertise in community engagement and advocacy.

Maria’s passion for working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities led her to Multicultural Aged Care (MAC), where she rapidly progressed into senior leadership roles. Over the years, she has led national programs and initiatives aimed at addressing the unique needs of CALD older people, with a strong focus on policy development, sector capacity building, and inclusive service delivery. As Chief Executive Officer of MAC, Maria continues to champion cultural intelligence and cultural competency within the aged care sector. Under her leadership, MAC works collaboratively with government, service providers, and community organisations to ensure that the voices, traditions, and needs of CALD older people are not only heard but actively addressed in policy and practice. Maria also contributes her expertise at a national level, sitting on various CALD advisory and working groups, where she advocates for inclusive policies and culturally responsive approaches across the aged care and broader health & community sectors.

 

 

 

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