Jatinder Kaur: the first Indian woman appointed to a Parole Board in Australia

Brisbane-based social worker Jatinder Kaur is the only female migrant to have been appointed to the Queensland Parole Board this month, and the first ever migrant of Indian origin.

Brisbane based social worker, Jatinder Kaur Source: Supplied

The  Palaszczuk Government recently named new members of a single Queensland Parole Board, following last year’s parole system review. This includes 33 permanent, professional and community members, and Punjabi-origin social worker Jatinder Kaur can be regarded as a "face of diversity" among these new appointments. 

Speaking to SBS Punjabi, Jatinder Kaur said, "It is a great honour and privilege to serve the community  in such an important role. As social worker I have worked with many clients who become involved with criminal justice system and I hope that being part of the Parole Board Qld, I can contribute to ensuring community safety but also advocate for more rehabilitation support for offenders, when they are released out in the community".

Hear Jatinder Kaur's interview in Punjabi: 

This may well be a historical milestone for the fast-growing Indian community of Australia as well, with Ms Kaur being the first person of Indian origin to be appointed to a statutory position like this, anywhere in Australia. "I'm not aware of any other Indian person or a Sikh, sitting on a government- appointed Parole Board across Australia," said Ms Kaur. "As a migrant on this board, it is also important to ensure that needs of the offenders from diverse backgrounds are met," she added.

Ms Kaur is an accredited Mental Health Social Worker, with a professional career spanning 15 years across various scopes of practice: research, child protection, family support, refugee settlement support, domestic violence counselling, policy roles and teaching Social work practice.

The thirty-three new members of the recently appointed Queensland Parole Board Source: Supplied

Throughout her career Ms Kaur has come into contact with the Queenlsand judicial system. "I have worked with both victims and perpetrators of child abuse, domestic and family violence, drugs and alcohol addictions, child sexual offenders from diverse backgrounds Indigenous, and migrant/refugee backgrounds."

"I believe my skill set of social work practice and values around social justice and mental health will be valuable to the position on the Parole Board, in relation to making decisions about prisoner application for parole and decision making around future risks to the community."

In an effort to make the Queensland Parole Board more representative of the demography of the state, there are three representatives from Cultural and Linguistically Diverse backgournds, two men of Asian backround, with Jatinder Kaur being the only female migrant appointed. "I am the only Indian and the only female migrant among the appointees. All up, there are two social workers, of whom I am one."

Ms Kaur will serve on the Queensland Parole Board for a term of three years, which commenced on July 3, 2017. She has undergone three days of induction training along with the other new appointees, and will be involved in parole decisions at least twice a month.

Her appointment on July brings about many 'firsts' in Australia Source: Supplied

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