Hello, I’m Cr Tess Law, a genuinely independent Councillor for the City of Kingston who lives local, volunteers local and loves our community!

I’m a mum of two, wife and partner of fifteen years. I was born in the old Mordialloc hospital and when I was young, my family and I would drive past the old Epsom Racetrack in Mordialloc and my brothers, sister and I would catch glimpses of the horses in training whilst on the way to visit my grandparents. My grandmother ‘Nan’ is as healthy as a horse and turned 90 this year and has a long history in the City of Kingston. My grandfather ‘Pop’ was a builder and he built the brick scout hall on Rowans Road which is now used as the much loved Moorabbin boxing gym. On my mother’s side of the family, my grandparents also lived in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs in Hampton and owned a newsagency with a post office. My parents have happily called Seaford home for 42 years.

My husband’s family are from the Mornington Peninsula with a history of service to the wider community. My husband was a lifeguard in his teens, my father-in-law is an honorary life-member of Portsea Surf Life Saving Club. Grandma was a midwife and grandpa was well known as the Sergeant at Sorrento Police Station who was the first pilot to fly the Southern Peninsular Rescue Squad Longranger. When London Bridge collapsed in 1990 grandpa flew the rescue helicopter which lifted those stranded to safety.

A history of community service

Growing up, I was always a competent student and attended a catholic primary school and public high school. I was the school sports captain and a winning cross country runner. My first volunteer role was with RSPCA animal rescue shelter, then weekend work at Doyle’s Bridge Hotel in Mordialloc, and in my late teens I became a Peer Educator for Women’s Health In The South East and travelled all over the City of Kingston and south-east Melbourne metro area to provide health and wellbeing workshops to young women in high schools. When I was nineteen I won a Youth Grant Award from Frankston City Council and used this to further my studies and this led me to the first of many roles to provide assistance to communities.

Early on in my career, working at the Triple Zero (000) call centre for Victoria, I provided emergency medical care to members of the public calling for an ambulance. I also directed ambulance response crews, medical flight helicopters and airwings. The role of helping people during times of crisis led me into working for the National Emergency Management Agency and National Crisis Management Centre where my goal was to build organisational capability. I would conduct planning and preparations for major disasters such as fires, floods, natural disasters, major technological failures etc. My next move was to Foreign Affairs and Trade where I ran leadership and professional development training in addition to transforming business practices to optimise staff performance. During COVID-19 we had our second child and always wanting to keep myself busy, I decided to return to work full-time whilst my husband looked after the kids at home. COVID changed our way of living and working.

Professional career experience

As an Organisational Development consultant, I work with a range of clients which has included public services including Triple Zero (000) Victoria, the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Crisis Management Centre and Foreign Affairs and Trade in addition to private sector including Nine Entertainment Co. and mid-tier advisory firm KordaMentha. I have experience leading a range of people projects, policies and services with Not-For-Profits and essential services including police, fire, defence force, health, transport, energy, telecommunications and welfare services.

I currently hold governance roles with Deakin University as an Advisory Board member and committee member on the Deakin University Teaching & Learning committee for the Faculty of Business and Law. My professional role is to work with CEOs, Directors, and senior leadership teams to increase organisational capability to achieve strategic outcomes and have competitive advantage in the market.

I hold post-graduate qualifications in business management and in the evenings, I study a Master's Degree in HRM (specialising in Leadership) within the Business and Law Faculty.

Where you can see me in our community

In our community, I volunteer with the Beach Patrol cleanup crew and Kingston Toy Library on Saturday mornings. My kids go to school in Mordialloc, we attend weekly sports in Mordialloc and recreational activities in Parkdale at the Community Centre. I'm a member of the volunteer parents group and my husband and I shop local and support local whenever we can. My older son attends little nippers at the Mordialloc Surf Lifesaving Club and on weekends we get involved in the amazing array of community and family friendly events that are held in our vibrant and thriving village.

What can you expect from me? I will be a dedicated, committed and informative local Councillor for Mordialloc and Parkdale. I am genuinely independent which means I have never been a member of or affiliated with any political party and I have no desire to move into State or Federal politics - I will work for you and your needs.

I am standing for supporting local businesses to thrive, providing continuous community input into planning that affects our families and future generations, gender equity, mental health and safer social connections.

When you see me in the community, say hello!

Sincerely, Councillor Law (She/Her)

Councillor for Melaleuca ward (Mordialloc/Parkdale) City of Kingston

Family | Safety | Accountable | Progressive | Future Focused | Kindness

Why I wanted to run as your local Councillor for Melaleuca ward

Family: There is nothing more important than family, the people we care about and those we want to spend our time with. We live in an amazing place but some of our amenities are not accessible or no longer fit-for-purpose. We need to create more accessible recreation spaces for all ages and abilities to enjoy.

Safety: Mordialloc and Parkdale’s population and visitors will continue to increase with more homes being built, major recreational development and infrastructure investment. Whilst this will bring economic growth which is great for local businesses, it means the way we move around our community needs to be more accessible and how safe we feel in our homes needs to be more secure.

Accountable: I am advocating strongly for our voices to be heard in Council planning which affects your families and our future generations. You can rely on me to keep you informed on what is happening in your village.

Progressive: I was shocked (but not surprised) to learn that next to asthma the number one health issue we face in Melaleuca ward is mental health. Better support for mental health needs to happen now. I am responsive in progressing gender equity, allyship, disability advocacy and mental health stigma.

Future Focused: I am dedicated to keeping Mordialloc a lively and bustling village during the LXRP and Aquatic Centre construction and I am committed to helping our local Parkdale businesses to grow and thrive post LXRP.

Kindness: Everyone in our community has the right to the same opportunities and access. I currently sit on the Kingston City Council Access and Equity committee and LGBTIQA+ subcommittee.

Watch to learn a little bit more about me and my background experience