Currently, Jackie is General Manager, Prevention & Recovery Services at Kids First Australia, an independent child and family services provider and a pioneer of sexual abuse services for children and young people in Victoria. Kids First’s Sexual Assault Counselling and Prevention Program (SACPP) works with children and young people who have experienced or engaged in harmful sexual behaviours. The team recently released an evidenced-informed consent education platform, ‘To Future Me’ which teaches on the topics of sex, consent, grooming behaviour and gender in an age-appropriate digital format.

At Kids First, Jackie has led the development and implementation of innovative new Practice Principles and an Outcomes Framework, co-designed with practitioners and families, and also represents Kids First as a member of Sexual Assault Services Victoria, the peak body for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviours services.

Jackie sits on the Board of Sexual Assault Services (Victoria) and is Deputy Chair of the Harmful Sexual Behaviour network. 

Prior to her current role, Jackie’s practice spanned social work, within child protection and then youth offending, before moving to Children’s Services Manager for Barnado’s The Junction, a service which works with children and young people displaying harmful sexual behaviours, and their families in the UK. 

In 2013 Jackie joined the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault, providing specialist knowledge, leadership, training and consultation to clinicians and providers across Victoria in the assessment, intervention and management of children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours.

In addition to her clinical practice, Jackie has co-authored two books, including:

Working with Children and Young People Whose Behaviour is Sexually Concerning or Harmful. Enabling professionals to become confident at assessing risk and developing safety plans (2014)

Working with Children and Teenagers using Solution Focused Approaches. Enabling children to overcome challenges and achieve their potential, (Book) Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2011(with J Milner).