Executive Officer, STAR Victoria

Esther Harris has been a disability advocate for more than 20 years, beginning with her work with the State School Parent Organisation, now known as Parents Victoria. It was from there that her passionate interest and commitment to the rights of  all children in education grew.

She now leads STAR Victoria, an independent community organisation  which  advocates with and for people with intellectual disability and their families across all areas of life. Much of its work relates to education, in particular advocating for and supporting the inclusion of students with a disability in mainstream schools across government, Catholic and independent systems.

The approach recognises that education is a critical pathway to lifelong social, economic and community inclusion and that schools play a fundamental role in helping to realise student aspirations and  their life goals.

Esther is also currently a board member of Disability Advocacy Victoria , the peak body for  independent disability advocacy  in Victoria.