Good law makes for better health - insights on intersection between health and law

Lisa Ward is a trusted voice in Victoria’s justice system, with over thirty-five years’ experience in criminal justice, child protection and family services. Lisa works across the government and community sectors, with a key focus on forging stronger connections between justice, health and human services.

She has been an independent advisor to major government reforms, providing strategic advice on legislative, policy and program design and has served numerous statutory appointments including to the Child Death Review Committee, Adult Parole Board and Sentencing Advisory Council of Victoria.

Lisa has led the establishment of multiple health justice partnerships within First Step Legal and overseen their four-year journey to build internal evaluation capability.

First Step Legal partnered with the School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne to evaluate client engagement with First Step Legal's health justice partnership model. That report, Evaluating the outcomes of First Step Legal's health justice partnerships, was funded by VLF. 

Lynne leads the Victoria Law Foundation team. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the fields of communications, journalism and management.

For 16 years, she worked with ABC Radio, including a stint hosting The Law Report on Radio National. She has also worked at the ACCC, the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Ombudsman and as a consultant. She has degrees in Law and English from the University of Western Australia and holds qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Community Directors Australia and has attended the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.

Bridget joined the Victoria Law Foundation in June 2023. 

With over 20 years of experience in monitoring, outcomes-based practice, and project management, Bridget is an evaluation specialist. She holds a Master of Public Health from Monash University, and is skilled in quantitative and qualitative measurement and analysis, and building evaluation capacity and systems. 

With a background working in international and community not-for-profits, Bridget previously led evaluation and research for over eight years at Victoria Legal Aid, driving evidence-based practice to underpin the design and delivery of effective, client-centred legal services.