Kris Clements: a career dedicated to justice and hope
For more than 25 years, Kris Clements has worked to create safer, more hopeful futures for children, young people, and families. A member of Community Work Australia for more than 10 years, Kris reflects the compassion, professionalism, and commitment to growth that define the community work sector.
As a Practice and Implementation Lead at OzChild, Kris supports practitioners and leaders to deliver work that is culturally safe, evidence-based, and responsive to families’ needs. “At its heart, my role is about walking alongside people so they feel supported, confident, and clear in the complexity of their work,” she explains.
“When practitioners feel grounded and capable, families experience practice that is relational, compassionate, and tailored to their needs.”
OzChild’s purpose - to strengthen families, provide healing, and prevent abuse and neglect - aligns closely with Kris’s own professional values. She sees her role as not only improving practice but also helping shape a culture where compassion and evidence go hand in hand. “When people feel supported to do their best work, that’s when real change happens,” she says.
Kris’s dedication to community work began with a belief in the power of relationships to create change. “The heart of it for me has always been social justice,” she says.
“Early in my career, I saw how transformative it can be when children, young people, and families feel truly heard. From that point on, I knew I wanted to work in a space where voices are central and where hope can grow.”
That belief continues to guide her approach today. Whether coaching leaders, facilitating reflective practice, or helping teams embed evidence-based models, Kris strives to build cultures that are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based. “What I love most is seeing growth - when people find clarity, step into new skills, or have those lightbulb moments that change how they see their work.”
The work, Kris admits, can be demanding. “There are days when the systemic pressures of reporting and compliance feel at odds with the respectful, relational practice I believe in.”
“But those challenges have made me more reflective - and more determined to help others navigate the same complexity with compassion.”
Looking ahead, Kris hopes to build her own coaching practice, supporting leaders to grow in confidence and purpose. “Ultimately, I want to contribute to a ripple effect where investing in leaders strengthens entire communities.”
For Kris, community work has never been just a job - it’s a lifelong commitment to justice, relationships, and hope.
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About Community Work Australia
From setting educational standards through to determining an ethical practice framework, we support community workers in every sphere of their work life.
Set up over 50 years ago, we exist to ensure that the community benefits from an ethical and well-qualified community work labour force.
