Esther McKay

Project Development Manager, Quest For Life Foundation – Formerly Manager of NSW Police Legacy -BACKUP For Life Project

Founder & President Police Post Trauma Support Group

Author: ‘Crime Scene’ & ‘Forensic Investigator’ (Penguin Random House)

Esther Mckay served 17 years in the NSW Police Force attaining the rank of Detective (Technical) Senior Constable.  She specialized in the area of Forensic Services for fifteen years with expert status in crime scene examination, vehicle examination and partial expert status in document examination.    She has a diploma of applied science in forensic Investigation and a Diploma of Counselling.  She is also part way through completing masters in applied social science.

 She is the author of 2 nonfiction Titles, ‘Crime Scene’ and ‘Forensic Investigator’, Penguin Random House.  Crime Scene’ is presently under option for an international mini-series. 

Due to her own lived experience with trauma after working in police forensics, Esther founded the Police Post Trauma Support Groups and has worked actively for the past 16 years as President supporting and coordinating services to both serving and former police and their families who suffer from work based trauma.  She is also a long standing advocate for improving conditions for first line responders and has raised the profile of emergency workers who are injured in the line of duty.  

She was awarded the National Police Service Medal with 15 year clasp, the Pride of Australia Medal for Community Service, the NSW Police Diligent and Ethical Service Medal and The National Service Medal.

Since leaving the police Esther has become the Patron of the Missing Persons Register and has served as an Australia Day Ambassador.

In 2016 she began work as the research and development manager and program coordinator for the moving beyond trauma program at the Quest for Life Foundation where she specialized in working with traumatised first responders as well as those traumatised across the wider community. 

In 2017 Esther began work with the NSW Police Legacy Backup for Life project as the program manager where she designed and rolled out a suite of services to assist transitioning and former officers along with their families to transition into new career paths, healthy lifestyle options, assistance with counselling and trauma care as well as fostering connections with the police family and maintaining strong ties and relationships.  It is here that Esther met Sean and Simon and became an advocate and strong supporter of the Beyond The Badge Career Transition Program, which she worked tirelessly to gain approval for inclusion into the Backup for Life suite of services.  Esther also collaborates with stakeholders across the NSW Police Force and Insurance Industry.

In 2021 Esther returned to the Quest for Life Foundation as Project Development Manager for the new four week residential Healing Trauma Program which assists both first line responders and the wider community with moving forward in their healing journeys.