Roma Britnell is the Member for South-West Coast in the Victorian Parliament.

She was first elected at a by-election in 2015 following the retirement Denis Napthine.

She was re-elected for a second term at the Victorian General Election in 2018.

She was sworn in for her second term on December 19, 2018.

Roma was appointed Shadow Minister for Rural Roads and Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight on December 14, 2018.

During her time in Parliament, she has been able to secure fast tracked funding for the new Warrnambool Special Development School, funding to improve the Warrnambool rail line and has driven investment in rural and regional roads.

She has also been vocal on the need to improve regional healthcare facilities, especially at the Warrnambool and Portland hospitals and remains a passionate advocate for the region’s food and fibre sector.

Roma is also a passionate advocate for regional growth, encouraging population and business expansion by improving regional infrastructure and providing incentives for people to relocate to regional Victoria.

Roma was also a member of the Parliament’s Family and Community Development Committee, which has held inquiries into Service for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder and into Perinatal Services.

Through this work, Roma was able to secure $500,000 in funding for the I CAN Network – a group that supports young people on the Autism Spectrum through mentoring and encourages them to see their ability and reach their full potential.

Prior to her election, Roma ran a successful dairy farm business. She is also a qualified nurse and has worked in healthcare in the South West for 30 years and for 15 years was manager of the Kirrae Health Service at the Framlingham Aboriginal Community.

She is a mother of four children and a grandmother to one.

Roma was the recipient of the 2009 National and Victorian Rural Woman of the Year, Australian Rural Woman of the Year and is a Nuffield Scholar.

As a leader in Victorian agricultural, Roma has served as the Vice President of the United Dairy Farmers of Victoria, is a past Chair of the WestVic Dairy which focused on developing the South West dairy industry and served on a number of number of boards, including the Geoffrey Gardner Foundation, Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority and Australian Dairy Farmers Federation.

She was a policy councilor with the Victorian Farmers Federation as well as a member of the Great South Coast Group’s Economic Pillar and a committee member of the Warrnambool City Council’s Food and Agriculture into China project.

She is now a member of Business Professional Women South West, the Woolsthorpe Branch of the Country Women’s Association and an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Warrnambool East and several other local sporting and community organisations.

Roma regularly supports local events and community groups and is still involved with fundraising for the Woolsthorpe Primary School, where her children went to school.

On this Episode we talk about-
Being involved in community

Starting out and the challenges

Pushing through

Family

Being a local voice and using that voice

Email us: katem@team.aceradio.com.au

The Women of Influence Podcast is a celebration.
Hosted by Kate Meade
Produced by Sophie Jackson

Australia is home to some remarkable women.
They’re raising foster families.
Running cattle stations.
Living inspirational lives.
Yet, many of their tales of triumph are never profiled, never celebrated.
So we’re changing that… every week.. through our Women Of Influence
Podcast.
You’ll fall in love with these women.

This podcast is produced by ACE Radio. Find out more at www.aceradio.com.au

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