Victoria's governor Linda Dessau has had her term extended by three years.
Ms Dessau's initial five-year term was due to expire next year but Premier Daniel Andrews says the Queen has accepted his request for her to stay on until June 30, 2023.
He said extending Ms Dessau's term would allow her and husband Anthony Howard to continue their outstanding work, as well as provide constitutional certainty during the next state election, due in November 2022.
"It is an honour and privilege to represent and promote our great state, and help to celebrate and support Victoria's diverse and vibrant community," Ms Dessau said in a statement on Tuesday.
"My husband Tony and I are delighted to be asked to continue our service to the people of Victoria."
Ms Dessau is the state's first female governor.
She worked as a magistrate in the Children's Court and the Melbourne Magistrates Court before serving as a Family Court judge from 1995 to 2013.
Ms Dessau was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2017, for service to the Victorian community.
Since her appointment as governor in 2015, Ms Dessau and Mr Howard have become patrons to more than 160 community organisations.
The premier cited her leadership and compassion during the state's most challenging times, including in the aftermath of the Bourke Street attack in January 2017 and as patron for the 10th anniversary of the 2009 bushfires earlier this year.
"There's a real empathy with her. I've seen her with people during good times and during really difficult times and she has a great warmth," Mr Andrews told ABC radio.
"We are very lucky to have her and lucky to have her continue on for another three years."
Australian Associated Press
