Former Neighbours star turns pain into purpose

SHE’S best known for her role on Neighbours and Underbelly, but since rising to fame on the small screen Madeleine West has also become a powerful voice for vulnerable women and children.

The cause is deeply personal to West. Having experienced abuse during childhood and faced homelessness as a young person herself, she has made it her life’s mission to protect others from similar hardship.

That is one of the reasons she’s agreed to speak at an upcoming In Conversation event hosted by beloved local personality Mandy Nolan for The SHIFT Project – a non-profit organisation that offers programs for women and families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

“I know what it’s like to be invisible, to fall between the cracks, to drop out and disconnect,” she said. “Those most vulnerable to homelessness are women are over 55. We cannot ignore that risk is a consequence of being a woman.

“We will invariably be discussing what it means to be a member of the Northern Rivers community, the fragility of living standards, the state of the economy, the environment and its impact on all of us, especially those who find themselves disenfranchised from society. Perhaps most importantly, we will explore what it means to be a woman and share our unique experiences with the audience.”

West, who moved to the Byron Shire in 2016, shares much in common with Nolan. Both are mothers — Nolan has five children, while 47-year-old West welcomed her seventh child earlier this year.

“We both also have a background in stand-up (hers far more illustrious than my brief sojourn, which mostly involved being told to sit down),” West said.

Earlier this year, West released a resource in partnership with the Australian Centre to End Child Exploitation, offering tools and education for parents. She also serves as lead educator for Safe on Social — a cyber safety education and consulting organisation.

She recently joined forces with parenting expert Maggie Dent, ‘The Unplugged Psychologist’ Brad Marshall and Safe on Social founder Kirra Pendergast to launch Ctrl+Shft, a coalition advocating for online safety for children.

Despite her advocacy work, West is still active in the acting world. A Hollywood movie she filmed in New Zealand with American actor Aaron Eckhardt and English actor Sir Ben Kingsley called Deep Water will be released later this year.

The upcoming In Conversation event is part of The SHIFT Project’s new Small Shift program — a regular talk series hosted by Nolan. The initiative is aimed at engaging lower-level donors, with a suggested contribution of $20 per week.

The Small Shift Conversation will be held at Crystalbrook Byron on Thursday July 24, from 7pm to 8pm.

Tickets are $40 and include champagne and charcuterie on arrival.

For more information or to book, visit shiftproject.org.au