Shalini Perera is a Senior Criminal Lawyer with the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales. With a fierce commitment to achieving justice for disadvantaged and marginalised communities, Shalini has represented thousands of people without the financial means to access legal representation over her 20 years with Legal Aid. She has also worked with the North Aboriginal Justice Agency in Darwin, advocating for one of the most disempowered groups in Australia, and pro-bono for community legal centres and arts festivals.
Shalini has supported the work of community organisations by providing legal advice, presentations, content for resources and reports. For five years she served on the management committee of the Macquarie Legal Centre (which later merged to become the Western Sydney Legal Centre), including as the chairperson. With good management and strong advocacy this legal centre grew during her tenure to be the largest legal centre in Western Sydney.