Hi, I’m Jay…
I was elected in November 2024 as the Councillor for Wendouree Ward at the City of Ballarat.
I love Ballarat. I live in Ballarat North with my partner in our own home. Our friendly community, country lifestyle, local history, parks, gardens, and access to nature and services make it a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
Growing up in regional Victoria, my childhood was tough. My single mum did her best but my brother and I often went without and we moved houses a lot. I got my first job at 12 to pay for school, clothes, food, and to help with household bills.
I left home at 16 and worked hard to become the first in my family to finish high school, then university, while juggling multiple casual jobs. Education was my ticket out of poverty.
I now work in advocacy - assisting working people to have their voices heard.
Committed to community service, I co-founded the Ballarat Tool Library, collect fresh food for local charities, and co-directed Ballarat Frolic Festival. I’m also a Board Director of a local not-for-profit helping young and vulnerable people secure jobs and training opportunities.
Proudly working class, I understand the challenges many of us are facing with cost of living, food and housing. I aim to ensure that we have a Council that looks out for you and your family.
My priorities are working hard to deliver the services and infrastructure we need, while protecting what makes our community special - and ensuring that young people and the most vulnerable in our community get the same opportunities I had to get ahead in life.
In my free time I volunteer with local community groups, hike local trails, and swim and gym at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre.
Here are the local issues I’m focused on:
Fixing our local roads and footpaths
Introducing a hard rubbish collection service
Ensuring we're getting value for money with our rates, plus cost of living and rates relief
Affordable housing and homelessness
Supporting local jobs, small businesses and industry
Improving local facilities and services in Wendouree Ward
Tackling traffic congestion and safety
Transparency for Council projects and decisions
Being accessible to you and other residents
If you have ideas on how to make Ballarat - and Wendouree Ward - an even better place to live, get in contact. I’d love to hear from you!
