Janine Harrison joins the Link-Up (Qld) team as a Redress Counsellor
Growing up in remote Western Australian towns such as Meekatharra and South Hedland gave Janine Harrison an early sense of adventure and curiosity about the world around her. As a kid, her family moved often because of her father’s work, and Janine remembers those years fondly – playing with matchbox cars in the red dirt, making mud pies and exploring abandoned mines in search of crystals and gold.
“I loved those years, loved the red dirt,” Janine recalls. “We never found the gold, only fool’s gold.”
That sense of curiosity and an interest in people has stayed with Janine throughout a varied career dedicated largely to community work, counselling and social justice. After completing her degree, Janine worked on community development projects in Australia and overseas, including projects supporting disadvantaged communities in India and establishing a foodbank in Bellingen. She later spent more than six years counselling people affected by domestic and family violence before moving into Community Corrections and facilitating intervention programs with people in prisons.
Janine’s longstanding interest in social justice and desire to work within an Aboriginal organisation eventually led her to Link-Up (Qld). She saw the role as an opportunity to draw on her broad counselling experience to support survivors seeking acknowledgement of what they had experienced. As a Redress Counsellor, Janine supports people engaging with the National Redress Scheme through what can be a complex and deeply personal process. Her role involves helping clients prepare and submit their application, whilst providing counselling and emotional support before, during and after their outcome.
For Janine, some of the most meaningful moments come when clients feel heard, supported and able to share experiences they may have carried for many years.
“I love it when you support a client and they say how much lighter they feel. Sometimes you can see it in their face, the weight that is lifted off them.”
One particularly memorable experience was supporting a Stolen Generations survivor as he received his Redress outcome and payment.
“Supporting him as he learned of his successful outcome was a privilege – to finally hear some acknowledgement of the harm done to him,” Janine said.
Thinking about applying for Redress?
The National Redress Scheme is accepting applications until 30 June 2027. People considering applying are encouraged to seek support early, giving them time to understand their options, gather information and complete an application at a pace that feels right for them.
Link-Up (Qld)’s Redress Support Service provides free and confidential support to help people understand the Scheme and, if they choose, apply for Redress. Click here to learn more about Link-Up (Qld)’s National Redress Scheme support service or call our team on 1800 200 855 during business hours.
You can also contact the National Redress Scheme on 1800 737 377 or visit www.nationalredresscheme.gov.au.
Published October 2026.