Kathy Kelly is an anti-violence and victim support advocate. Her son Thomas was killed when a stranger punched him in the face, unprovoked, on a night out with friends in Kings Cross in 2012. Kathy and her family became campaigners to prevent this kind of alcohol-fueled violence. Her activism led to a number of significant changes in New South Wales, including changes to liquor licensing laws and a government funded victims’ financial hardship program. Kathy also initiated Take Kare Safe Spaces, which ensures young people get home safely across Sydney’s inner city.
In 2016 Kathy’s other teenage son, Stuart, died by suicide. Kathy sheds light on experiences of family trauma and resilience in the face of great personal tragedy.
