A Purpose Defined by Action

True leadership is measured not by titles, but by the lives changed along the way. For Sharon Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Keeley’s Cause, leadership has always been about action. It is about advocating for inclusion, creating access where systems fall short, and ensuring children with disabilities are not left behind. What began as a deeply personal journey alongside her daughter has grown into a nationally respected charity delivering tangible outcomes for families across Australia. Sharon leads with clarity, conviction, and lived understanding, transforming compassion into measurable impact and purpose into progress.

Early Life, Loss, and the Roots of Advocacy

Sharon was born in Wodonga, Victoria, before moving to Broadmeadows at a young age due to her father’s service as a warrant officer in the Australian Army. Her early life changed forever when her father passed away suddenly from a cerebral brain hemorrhage before she turned three. Raised by her mother, Sharon learned resilience early, shaped by responsibility, empathy, and an understanding of how fragile stability can be for families.

She spent her childhood in Tullamarine, Victoria, before relocating to Bacchus Marsh as a young adult. These formative years instilled a strong work ethic and a grounded perspective on community and service. At just fifteen, Sharon took her first job as a checkout assistant at Kmart in Westfield Airport West, a role that introduced her to accountability, consistency, and the dignity of honest work.

Education became a pathway to purpose. Sharon completed a Diploma in Community Welfare and later earned a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, building a professional foundation that aligned with her values. Over time, she developed more than fourteen years of experience in the welfare sector and more than fifteen years in volunteering across diverse communities. Her professional focus expanded into family violence intervention programs, where she supported women impacted by domestic violence through counseling, advocacy, and self esteem development. This work sharpened her ability to listen, to lead with care, and to design support that meets people where they are.

From Lived Experience to Executive Leadership

Motherhood brought Sharon’s professional mission into sharp focus. She is the mother of three children, two of whom are diagnosed with autism, with her youngest also living with an intellectual disability. Navigating education, health systems, and support services firsthand revealed both the possibilities and the gaps faced by families. It also clarified Sharon’s leadership calling.

In 2017, Sharon joined her daughter Keeley at the very beginning of Keeley’s Cause, a charity founded by Keeley at just thirteen years old after experiencing the transformative impact of technology on learning and communication. Sharon worked behind the scenes from day one, helping turn a personal idea into a sustainable organization. She ensured governance, compliance, and operations were established as the charity grew, supporting Keeley’s vision with strategic execution.

By December 2021, Sharon was appointed Chief Executive Officer, formalizing a leadership role she had already been living. Under her stewardship, Keeley’s Cause achieved national registration with ACNC status, DGR1, and PBI endorsement. Sharon leads alongside a committed board and advisory network, balancing strategic growth with hands on involvement. She liaises directly with families, advocates for children’s rights and inclusion, oversees the selection and processing of iPad applications, and coordinates presentations with sponsors and community partners.

Her leadership is both executive and operational. Sharon believes credibility is built through proximity to the work, not distance from it. That belief continues to define how she leads.

Delivering Access, Dignity, and Opportunity

The impact of Sharon’s leadership is tangible and national in scale. Keeley’s Cause provides iPads to children aged six to eighteen diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities, prioritizing families from low socioeconomic backgrounds. For many non verbal children, these devices are not just tools for education. They are a voice.

In 2025 alone, 130 iPads were delivered across Australia without government funding. Each device represented access, communication, regulation, and improved mental wellbeing in a world not always designed for neurodivergent children. Sharon has guided the organization through community led fundraising, grassroots partnerships, and large scale events, including the Inclusivity Charity Gala at Park Hyatt Melbourne, a flagship gathering that brings together advocates, businesses, families, and community leaders during Autism Awareness Month.

Recognition has followed her sustained commitment. In 2026, Sharon received a Certificate of Appreciation as part of the Moorabool Shire Council Citizen of the Year Awards, acknowledging nearly two decades of welfare work and volunteer service. She has also served for many years with Lions Australia and as President of the Ballan Lions Club, continuing a lifelong dedication to community service.

Throughout her work, Sharon’s voice remains steady and values driven. As she often shares, “Failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of the journey. When you act with courage, compassion, and determination, one person really can make a difference.” Her advocacy consistently emphasizes that inclusion is not optional. It is essential.

Leadership Philosophy: Inclusion That Moves From Words to Action

Sharon’s leadership philosophy is rooted in empathy and accountability. She challenges assumptions that limit people with disabilities and calls for systems that adapt rather than exclude. In her words, “When we stop assuming and start including, we create a world where people with disabilities are not just accommodated, but empowered.”

She encourages collaboration across education, business, and community sectors, believing that meaningful change happens when compassion is paired with action. Her advice to the next generation reflects that same clarity of purpose. “Trust in your voice, even when it feels like the world isn’t listening. Take care of your mental health, be kind to yourself, and never underestimate the difference one person can make when they act with courage and compassion.”

A guiding principle she returns to often is simple and demanding in equal measure. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” For Sharon, this is not a slogan. It is a standard she lives by every day.

Vision for the Future: Scaling Impact Through Partnership

Looking ahead, Sharon remains focused on sustainable growth and deeper impact. The 2026 Inclusivity Charity Gala, scheduled for June 20, will be a cornerstone event aimed at expanding corporate sponsorship and long term partnerships. The goal is clear. To increase the number of children who receive life changing technology, strengthen mental wellbeing outcomes, and advocate for inclusive systems that endure beyond individual programs.

Sharon envisions a future where access to communication and education tools is not dependent on postcode or income. She continues to build alliances with businesses, philanthropists, and community leaders who share that vision and are ready to act on it.

Editorial Note

Sharon Murphy’s journey is a powerful example of leadership shaped by lived experience and sustained by action. From early loss to national impact, she has built a legacy defined not by recognition, but by results. Her work reminds us that inclusion requires intention, leadership requires accountability, and meaningful change requires participation.

For organizations, sponsors, and individuals seeking to create lasting social impact, Sharon’s work offers a clear invitation. Get involved. Invest in access. Choose inclusion. Because when leadership is grounded in purpose, the outcomes extend far beyond any single moment and into the lives of those who need it most.