Andrea Madeley

Andrea completed a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours at Deakin University and was admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of South Australia in August 2019.

Andrea came to the legal profession a little later in life, driven by the traumatic loss of her 18-year-old son Daniel, following a horrifying workplace tragedy in June 2004.  In his first year at work, Daniel was working as an apprentice toolmaker when the dust coat he was wearing became entangled in a horizontal boring machine, pulling him in and ending his young life.

Since then, Andrea has become a tenacious advocate for others impacted by a workplace death, as well as becoming a strong voice against unsafe work practices.  Andrea has used her own experiences to help others to find their own voice, as well as lobbying members of parliament to protect entitlements under the South Australia’s workers compensation scheme as well as submitting numerous proposals under Australia’s model work, health, and safety legislation.

In her role as an advocate, Andrea’s commitment to safety has seen her travel around Australia on public speaking engagements.  Andrea was also integral to the development of the South Australia International Worker’s Memorial Day Service, an event which brings together bereaved families and members of the public each year on 28 April, for a day of remembrance in honour of those who lost their lives because of their work.

Andrea has grounded herself in the area of Personal Injury Law, nurturing her deep passion and commitment to justice, with a special place in her heart for all things related to work, health and safety.  She is driven to help injured people traverse the legal complexities of South Australia’s workers compensation scheme, in workplace fatalities, motor vehicle accidents, employment law and common law negligence claims.

In 2008, Andrea was recognised as the Ambassador for ‘Passport to Safety’ due to her work as a safety educator with young people entering the workforce.  In 2011, she was also nominated in the prestigious South Australian Women’s Honour Roll by the South Australian Government. In 2023, she was nominated as Australian of the Year, acknowledging her unwaivering commitment to and advocacy of workplace safety. 

Education

2019 Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice, Adelaide University

2018 Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Deakin University

Community Advocacy & Representation

2008-Present Event Manager, International Workers’ Memorial Day Service

2006-Present Founding Member, VOID (Voice of Industrial Death) Family advocacy and support

2006-Present Public Speaker/Presenter; Reflections

Honours and Awards

2023 SA Nominee Australian of the Year

2011 South Australian Women’s Honour Roll Nominee
South Australian Government recognition of women who demonstrated a commitment to others in their community

2008 Official Ambassador – Passport to Safety
Web-based learning tool providing a basic level of workplace health, safety and welfare awareness for students about to enter the workforce.

Active Professional Memberships

Muriel Matters Society Inc.

Law Society of South Australia