A tribute to women advancing child safety
Honouring 2 Victorian advocates on International Women’s Day. Published: Thursday 5 March 2026 at 10:43 am
Trigger warning: includes references to child injuries and deaths that some may find distressing.
Kerrie Shearer lost her 3-year-old grandson Lincoln when he became tangled in a blind cord in a rental home.
After learning that one or 2 Australian children were dying in similar incidents each year, she turned her grief into action. Along with others, Kerrie campaigned for change.
From 1 December 2025, all rental properties in Victoria must have secured cords on internal window coverings. This stops them forming loops that could trap children.
Allison Burns OAM also knows this pain. She lost her 14-month-old daughter Isabella after she swallowed a button battery. Since then, Allison has become a powerful voice for change, raising awareness about the deadly risks button batteries pose to children.
Her advocacy has helped drive world-leading reform and stronger protections. Consumer Affairs Victoria credits her with inspiring its zero-tolerance approach to the mandatory safety standards and its elevation of product safety as a regulatory priority.
This International Women’s Day, we honour Kerrie and Allison and the lasting impact they have made.
To make your home safer:
- order a free curtain and blind cord safety kit from Consumer Affairs Victoria
- learn about the dangers of button batteries and how to keep children safe.
Consumer Affairs Victoria is part of the Department of Government Services.
More DGS News:
- Product safety in action at the Melbourne Royal Show
- New awards celebrate Victorian women councillors
- All DGS News
Updated 6 March 2026
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