Congratulations to Maeve Brown, the recipient of the Cath Leary Social Justice Award for 2024.
This award acknowledges Maeve’s outstanding efforts, leadership and lifelong commitment to upholding human rights and human dignity in her work with people seeking asylum and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Aligning with the aims of the Mercy Foundation to end homelessness and address disadvantage for marginalised women, the Board particularly recognises Maeve’s advocacy work to ensure visa status does not prevent access to housing and homelessness support, and ensuring women experiencing gender-based violence can access support regardless of visa status.
Maeve worked at Jesuit Refugee Services for many years, and is now the CEO of Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre.
The Mercy Foundation Board, together with Cath’s family, congratulate Maeve on her many achievements, her continued hard work over many years and her significant contribution to social justice in Australia.
2024 marks 10 years since the passing of Cath Leary, former Board member of the Mercy Foundation and passionate advocate for social justice. In recognition of Cath’s anniversary, her family assisted in nominating the recipient of the award. Cath’s friends also donated towards this award, enabling us to increase the cash award to $6,000. Maeve is an outstanding individual and we are sure that Cath would heartily agree.
Above: Dr Jennifer Leary, Maeve Brown and Annabel Senior, Chair of the Mercy Foundation
