Maria is a leading national expert in the provision of cultural awareness, workplace diversity and cultural change management programs. She has extensive experience in policy formulation, research for social planning and community education.
She has undertaken sensitive consultations with diverse communities on issues including care for the aged, health, domestic violence and the law. In delivering cultural awareness and change management programs, she has contributed to a greater understanding of the diversity implications in decision-making and service provision.
Maria has participated in several boards and committees, including the Institute for Cultural Diversity, Immigrant Women's Domestic Violence Service of Victoria and Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS).
She is a member of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, International Commission of Jurists, Australian Institute of Management and several other associations.
In 2009, Maria was appointed to the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, and in March 2002, she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. She is the recipient of an Amnesty International Human Rights Award for her work on the legal needs of women from non-English speaking backgrounds.