Yolanda Robson

Paloma Cole

Paloma is passionate about using the law as a vehicle for justice and progress through individual client representation and wider law reform advocacy.

Paloma started her legal career as an employment lawyer at a national plaintiff law firm. Prior to joining the Young Workers Centre she worked as a senior lawyer and acting manager at Fitzroy Legal Service and as a Senior Associate in a national firm’s pro bono practice. She has also worked in legal policy roles in state government where she focused on progressive civil law reforms.

Outside of work, Paloma enjoys hiking with her partner, baking and going to live music and comedy shows.

Shannen Bethune 

Shannen (she/her) is a junior lawyer passionate about worker’s rights. Prior to the YWC, she worked at the United Workers’ Union for over 5 years, primarily assisting Cleaners and Early Educators. Off the clock, Shannen enjoys spending time with friends, walking and cooking.

Alessandra Galletti 

Alessandra (she/her) had no idea what area of law she wanted to specialise in after completing her legal studies until she became involved in the union movement. She developed her passion for unionism and workers' rights whilst working as an Industrial Advocate.  

She continues to hold the title of owning the most cats in the Young Workers Team (four) and spends her free time with friends and family watching, playing and talking about sport. 

Maddy Spooner 

Maddy (she/they) has been a union member for their whole working life, but became more of an activist during their time as an Advocate at the Young Workers Centre in 2023. Maddy was an Advocate Team Leader from 2024, until their admission as a lawyer in March 2025.

Maddy spends their free time learning how to sew, and venturing to the footy, theatre, and museums.

Renee Burns

Renee (she/her) is an enthusiastic unionist and proud to support the Young Workers Centre legal team in the role of YWC Legal Assistant.

Renee has previously led an employment rights think tank; supported employment law, and business & human rights research centres; and researched and published in the areas of freedom of association, collective bargaining, and trade union training. Renee holds a Masters of Employment and Labour Relations Law and once held the title of NSW CWA junior long stitch champion.

When not writing about herself in the third person - or actively avoiding doing so - Renee enjoys live music, theatre, film, sleep, and raising a young unionist.

Grace Holmes

Grace is a law student who undertook a double degree in Criminology and Arts before starting her JD. She has always been passionate about social justice, especially human rights and environmental justice. She was an advocate with the Young Workers Centre early in 2025 and this is what cemented her passion for helping others and the law. Outside of work, she studies (lots) and loves to go to trivia nights and be in nature with her friends and family.

Frankie Nowicki

Frankie became interested in employment law after getting a job at a union and becoming an advocate with the Young Workers Centre in 2024 when she was a law student. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, going to the beach and watching the footy.

Siane Grant-Hayes

Siane (she/her) has a background in education and is passionate about young people’s wellbeing. Far from just a morning journal and a walk (though she is partial to both those things), Siane sees wellbeing as a structural issue and is passionate about young people leading the changes that effect them.

Siane’s also had her fair share of dodgy bosses and is proud to be helping young people have positive experiences at work. Outside of the YWC Siane loves sitting in the sun, eating and swimming.

Josie Foster

Josie came to the union movement through learning about climate change and realising it all comes back to the economy we build and who is controlling it. She is passionate about workers building a world that works for all of us and following in the footsteps of the unionists who created the Green Ban Movement and teaching young people about the history of the workers movement in Australia.

In her spare time she likes to spend as much time with her sweet son, write, spend forever knitting the same blanket, and is known for bringing everything back to astrology!!

Katie Hanh-Vo

Katie (she/they) is experienced in youth-focused work, especially youth from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. A great part of Katie’s work and activism has been on assisting and empowering newly arrived youth and adults to connect with their community.

Outside of the YWC, Katie loves hanging out with their cat, Sushi and making their own clothes as a form of protest against the fast fashion industry.

Nina Mountford

Nina (she/they) has a background in theatre making and a strong commitment to unionism. Dedicated to worker’s rights, accessibility, and the arts, Nina joined the YWC excited to help young people reach safe, secure, and well-paying employment through education and support.

Outside of their union work, Nina can be found making and watching theatre, reading, lounging, and gesticulating wildly.

Olivia Baldwin

Olivia (she/her) has a background in political science and has been involved in social justice advocacy since high school. After spending her early years in the workforce in retail and hospitality she learnt the importance of standing up for yourself and organising in the workplace. Having also spent time at the Fair Work Ombudsman, Olivia also has insight into how complex understanding your rights can be but also how important it is to fight for them!

Outside of work you can find her at a concert, a gig, or just watching music videos on the couch with her friends.

Lyndon Caswell

Lyndon (he/him) recently completed his law degree and has been passionate about workers’ rights and social justice for as long as he can remember. As someone who worked a lot of hospo jobs after high school, he has seen how young workers are treated firsthand and believes they deserve better. Before his time as an Outreach Organiser, he was an advocate with the Young Workers Centre in 2024.

Outside of YWC, you can find Lyndon driving virtual race cars, watching sport or playing music. 

Angus Leech