Wikipedia

Draft:Renée Coffey

  • Comment: Primary sources, passing mentions, and things the subject has said do not establish notability. We need to see significant coverage of her in multiple secondary sources that are reliable and independent. Or else wait and see if she gets elected and qualifies under WP:NPOL. DoubleGrazing (talk) 07:36, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: These are good changes; thank you for bringing the article closer to WP:NPOV. I'm still concerned about the "federal politics" section being unreferenced, though. A list of campaign promises does not seem to be particularly encyclopedic, unless those promises have been reported on by reliable sources. Utopes (talk / cont) 18:49, 10 September 2024 (UTC)


Renée Coffey
Personal details
Pronunciation/ˈrɛn.eɪ ˈkɒf.i/
BornMater Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
SpouseJason McKenzie (m. 2024)
Children2 sons, 2 step-daughters
EducationUniversity of Queensland (BA, Hons I)

University of South Australia (Grad Dip Ed)
University of New South Wales (Grad Cert in Social Impact)

Stanford University (Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders)
OccupationNon-profit executive, advocate

Renée Coffey (/ˈrɛn.eɪ ˈkɒf.i/), born April 1982, is an Australian non-profit executive, spokesperson for youth mental health and awarded indigenous reconciliation advocate.

Early life and education

edit

Renée Coffey was born at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane in April 1982 and grew up in the suburb of Hawthorne. During her high school years, she founded "Young Australians for Anti-Racism and Reconciliation".[1]

Career

edit

Coffey served as the Deputy CEO of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) for more than a decade, where she worked to expand access to educational scholarships for Indigenous students.[2]

In 2023, Coffey became the CEO of the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation, which provides mental health services to young people affected by family mental illness. During this time, the foundation launched the Regenerate program, which combines environmental education with mental health literacy for young people impacted by family mental illness.[3]

Advocacy

edit

Coffey was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2011.[4] She is an ambassador for the Kiss Goodbye to MS campaign, advocate and fundraiser for MS research and promoting the Overcoming MS (OMS) diet by Professor George Jelinek.[5][6] Coffey is a published contributor to Professor Jelinek's book Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis handbook.[7][8]

Coffey is a regular spokesperson for youth mental health in particular for families where parents may have mental health challenges.[9][10][11][12]

Coffey is published and awarded advocate for Indigenous reconciliation and education.[13][14][15][16] In 2016, Coffey spoke at TedX of how education can unleash potential and produce transformative outcomes.[17][18][19]

Coffey is also an advocate for policy changes to improve gender equality and to close the gender pay gap. She also been involved in campaigns for pay transparency in Australia, advocating for an end to pay secrecy as a measure to promote gender equality. Her views on this issue were quoted by Graham Perrett MP in a 2022 speech to Parliament.[20]

She has also supported the introduction of paid practicums for student nurses, teachers, social workers, and midwives. This policy aims to reduce financial barriers for students in these professions. Legislation supporting paid practicums has been passed in Queensland and at the Federal level.[21][22]

Awards and recognition

edit

Coffey has been recognised for her advocacy work:

  • Queensland Finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards (2000)
  • Non-Indigenous Youth Representative, Corroboree 2000[23]
  • Australian Centenary Medal (2001)[24]
  • Delegate, Australia 2020 Summit
  • Nominated for Pride of Australia Medal (2015) for her community and advocacy work.[25]
  • Recipient of the Stanford Australia Association scholarship for the Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders, Stanford University.[26]

Federal politics

edit

In 2024, Coffey was selected as the Australian Labor Party candidate for the federal electorate of Griffith.[27] According to the press release published by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Coffey's campaign will focus on local concerns including cost of living, climate action, addressing the housing crisis, community engagement, and promoting healthcare and women's equality.[28]

Personal life

edit

In June 2024, Coffey married Jason McKenzie. She has two sons and two step-daughters.[29]

References

edit
  1. ^ "2018 IBSC annual conference speakers". International Boys' Schools Coalition. 11 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Introducing our new CEO". Kookaburra Kids. 16 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Regenerate program – Bupa Foundation partnership". 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  4. ^ Ongaro, Daniela (3 December 2014). "Pregnant mum's brave campaign to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis". The Daily Telegraph.
  5. ^ Freeman, Jessica (23 May 2014). ""Kiss Goodbye to MS: Renee Coffey raises awareness"". Mamamia.
  6. ^ "S5E6 Over a decade of Overcoming MS with Renee Coffey". Overcoming MS. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook".
  8. ^ Seeney, Belinda (31 May 2018). "Is it tattoo time for Jessica Rudd and her bestie in their MS fundraiser?". The Courier Mail.
  9. ^ "Telethon funding helps Kookaburra Kids break cycle of family mental illness". The West Australian. 19 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Rev Bill Crews talks to Renee Coffey". 4BC radio. 25 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Kookaburra Kids Foundation CEO Renee Coffey". Ultra106five. 6 October 2023.
  12. ^ "National Talkblack 231023". BBM 98.7fm. 20 December 2024.
  13. ^ "It's 20 years this week since the Reconciliation Walk across Sydney's Harbour Bridge". SBS News. 25 May 2020.
  14. ^ "9 people who inspired Ipswich in 2016". The Courier Mail. 23 December 2016.
  15. ^ Davis, Tony (28 March 2010). "Marching for a fresh beginning". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. ^ Rushton, Gina (16 May 2015). "AIEF: Tyrone Kay's second home is where hope lives". The Australian.
  17. ^ "How education can unleash potential and produce transformative outcomes". TedX Talks. 21 December 2016.
  18. ^ Kerin, Lindy (20 May 2015). "Australian Indigenous Education Foundation launches boarding school blueprint to help Indigenous students graduate". ABC News.
  19. ^ "Hansard". NSW Legislative Council. 27 May 2015.
  20. ^ Perrett, Graham (18 August 2022). "Federal Government update". Hansard. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  21. ^ Bennett, Kate (10 September 2024). "'Extra help': Uni prac students to benefit from $319 weekly payment". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  22. ^ Jones, Samantha (7 September 2024). "Paid teaching placement incentives offered to students in final stages of tertiary study". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  23. ^ "Renee Coffey, Youth Representative - Speech to Corroboree 2000". Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Centenary Medal recipients". 1 January 2001. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  25. ^ King, Emily (2 September 2015). "Pride of Australia Medal – 2015". The Daily Telegraph.
  26. ^ "Stanford Australia Foundation Partnership Program". UTS. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  27. ^ "House of Representatives on 10/09/2024 - QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE". Parliament of Australia. 10 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Press conference - Brisbane - Transcript". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 August 2024.
  29. ^ Elks, Sarah (14 June 2024). "Peter Dutton's failed Gerard Rennick intervention". The Australian.


Category:Australian women in politics Category:People from Brisbane Category:Living people

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Renée_Coffey&oldid=1245506178"