Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Limited

Letitia Hope is a Deputy Secretary at the Australian Government Department of Social Services, where she leads work to strengthen end-to-end policy and implementation insights, system stewardship, and cross-government accountability to improve outcomes across Australia’s social policy systems.

A proud Bundjalung, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander woman, Letitia has more than 30 years’ experience across Commonwealth and State governments in social policy development, program management, human services and public sector leadership.

Most recently, Letitia served as Deputy Secretary of the Families and Communities Stream, leading one of the Australian Government’s largest social policy and service delivery portfolios. Her responsibilities spanned preventative, early intervention and responsive social services, including the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, Closing the Gap priorities, Families and Communities programs, place-based and community-led service models, community grants and investment frameworks, financial wellbeing and capability initiatives, income management reforms, volunteering and community participation, the National Redress Scheme, and programs supporting children, families and communities across Australia.

Her current priorities include leading a systems-focused reform agenda to strengthen First Nations access to social security and related government supports and providing strategic stewardship of the Australian Government’s response to the Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children.