06/09/2026
Did you know that Clr Julie Griffiths AM was the brains behind the paid parental leave entitlements?
Julie was pulled out of school at 14 years. Growing up in Seven Hills in a very Catholic family, Julie was the second oldest of four children and the only girl. When her parents separated due to domestic violence, young Julie felt lost.
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It could have been the end of the story. Instead, it became the beginning.
Julie didn’t let the circumstances of her childhood define her. She attended TAFE and gained an Associate Diploma in Records Management & Information Technology. She says ‘The universe planned it for me’
In 1990, she was recruited by the United Services Union, because they wanted a female to talk to females. Then came the Blacktown City Council. She served as the Deputy Mayor for 3 consecutive terms.
As the Director of Women, Child Care, Youth & Aged Care for NSW for 18 years, Julie spent first 3 years mastering complex regulations and is now the go-to person for childcare matters.
A successful campaign for paid maternity leave, secured in NSW before it became national legislation through negotiations with Julia Gillard. She spoke about it in Korea at the International Labour Organisation convention. Surprisingly, it was the men who supported the campaign the most!
Julie was awarded an AM by the newly elected King Charles III, which she sees not simply as an honour, but as a platform to continue serving her community.
Her passion extends to women’s football and futsal. She has coached the Australian women’s teams and proudly watched their domestic and international achievements. Her message to young girls is powerful - You are capable, someone believes in you!
McGrath Foundation Pink Up Blacktown campaign during October will help provide a third cancer care nurse at Mt Druitt and Blacktown hospitals. Julie reminds us that breast cancer affects men too and urges everyone to get tested.
Listening to Julie, I kept thinking about that little girl who had to leave school at 14. I can see where her determination to give others, especially women, a voice, to feel belonged and fight for fairness comes from.
I love the soundtrack of her story. I Am Woman, We Are the World and Girl on Fire, because, as Julie says, that’s who she is.
Julie, take a bow, you ARE a living legend!
