Thursday, 18 March 2021

Maria Karvelas

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Equality) (09:41): I rise to pay tribute to the life of Maria Karvelas, someone who made a great impact on her community and her state through her tireless work and advocacy in public service in the areas of disability and housing and in the wider health and community services area. She was foremost a loved member of her family and community and someone who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Maria started her public service career in 2001 and worked in public health initially. She made major contributions to the development of programs to improve the testing and treatment of prisoners with respect to blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections. She also contributed at state and national levels to hepatitis B and C policy and program development. In 2010 she joined the disability division of the department as an executive officer, a position which saw her plan, project manage and develop policy, particularly in the areas of the quality and effectiveness of disability services in Victoria. Maria made a major contribution to preparation for the national disability insurance scheme and project management to support the closure of Victoria’s last two disability institutions, Sandhurst and Colanda. She also made an outstanding contribution to social housing programs and laid the work for the big build project that the Minister for Housing is now delivering through Homes Victoria. Most recently Maria worked in the specialist housing for disability team in Homes Victoria. Her deep knowledge and extensive skills will be sadly missed. Vale, Maria Karvelas—a life well lived.