Colleen Furlanetto

Colleen Furlanetto was appointed as a new Director with Ambulance Victoria from 1 July 2020.

She is a passionate and committed community leader, specialising in diversity, equality and the disability sector.

Living in rural Victoria, Colleen is a Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteer leader and supporter of the CFA Rehabilitation Health Monitoring Team and other committee roles in strategic planning, also in diversity and inclusion in CFA. She was recently appointed Board member of Regional Development Victoria – Goulburn Regional Partnership.

With a background in nursing, Colleen’s interests extend across health access for those living in rural and regional Victoria, including those with disability. From 2008 to 2016, she was an elected local government representative (Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor), focusing on community access to healthcare and timely emergency support for rural areas. She has also served on a variety of not-for-profit boards, including organisations involved in the prevention of violence against girls and women.

Colleen enjoyed two terms as a member of Victoria’s Disability Advisory Council including two years as Chair. In 2020, she concluded her three year term as inaugural Disability Commissioner for Commercial Vehicles Victoria (taxi and rideshare industries). In 2015, Colleen was the recipient of the Brenda Gabe award for Women with Disability Victoria, followed by the Australian Human Rights Commissioner Inspire Award in 2016.