Sally Spicer

Career Trajectory: From Investigative Reporting to Narrative Leadership

Sally Spicer has established herself as one of Australia's foremost journalists specializing in gender equity and social justice reporting. Her 15-year career demonstrates a consistent pattern of:

• Pioneering long-form investigations into domestic violence systems
• Developing feminist media frameworks through executive production roles
• Mentoring emerging female journalists through editorial leadership

Key Career Phases

2016-2020: Groundbreaking Domestic Violence Reporting
Spicer's early bylines at Future Women established her signature approach combining data journalism with survivor narratives. Her 2019 investigation into police response times for protection orders revealed systemic failures across three states.

2021-Present: Multimedia Storytelling Innovation
As Communications Director and Executive Producer at Future Women, Spicer spearheads the award-winning podcast There's No Place Like Home, which has driven policy changes through its survivor-centered reporting.

Defining Works

• "Domestic violence: We're asking the wrong questions" (Missing Perspectives)

This 2023 investigative piece reframed national conversations about abuse survivorship through its examination of post-separation violence dynamics. Spicer analyzed four years of Victoria Police data showing 62% of domestic violence reports concern former partners, challenging prevailing narratives about "why victims stay."

• "The nine simple words that defined my career" (Future Women)

In this personal essay, Spicer details how mentorship shaped her approach to ethical journalism. The piece outlines her philosophy of "impact through immersion," emphasizing the need for journalists to maintain professional boundaries while cultivating deep subject matter expertise.

• "There’s No Place Like Home: After She Leaves" (Future Women)

As executive producer, Spicer guided this Peabody-nominated podcast series examining the realities of post-separation abuse. The show's innovative use of anonymized survivor audio diaries created new standards for trauma-informed reporting.

Pitching Recommendations

1. Systemic Barriers in Support Services

Spicer prioritizes stories exposing institutional failures in survivor support systems. Successful pitches demonstrate:

• Concrete data on service gaps (e.g., waitlist statistics)
• Legal analysis of protection order enforcement
• Cross-jurisdictional comparisons

Example: Her 2024 investigation into housing shortages for abuse survivors combined census data with personal narratives from regional NSW.

2. Workforce Participation Post-Trauma

With rising interest in economic abuse prevention, Spicer seeks stories about:

• Employer policies supporting survivors
• Financial literacy programs
• Return-to-work barriers

Her award-winning series on workplace discrimination against survivors informed national HR policy reforms.

3. Media Representation Analysis

As a media executive, Spicer commissions critiques of:

• Newsroom diversity initiatives
• Trauma reporting guidelines
• Podcast audience engagement metrics

Her 2023 study of true crime podcast demographics revealed significant gaps in survivor representation.

Awards and Recognition

• 2024 Mumbrella Publish Awards Journalist of the Year
  Awarded for her multi-platform investigation into family court failures, which combined court data analysis with survivor testimonials. The judging panel noted "unprecedented depth in systems-level reporting."
• 2023 Walkley Award Finalist (Radio/Audio Documentary)
  Recognized for podcast episode "The Cost of Freedom," which tracked the $18,000 average expense burden for survivors leaving abusive relationships.