EMBARGOED UNTIL 7:00PM, SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER
2002
MEDIA RELEASE – 27/10/2002
2002 CHILDREN’S LAWYER AWARDS
The Woomera Lawyers Group of SA has been awarded the National Award for Excellent and Outstanding Legal Representation of Children and Young People. Troy Edwards, lawyer, formerly of Sydney Regional Aboriginal Corporation Legal Service has been Awarded the National Award for Excellent and Outstanding Legal Representation of Indigenous Children and Young People.
The National Children's and Youth Law Centre's 2002 Children’s Lawyer Awards
were presented at the Children's Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Sunday 27 October in an event coinciding with the commencement of the 16th World Congress of the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates. The awards aim to highlight the achievements and commitment of particular advocates who work with young people, as well as acknowledge the work of all who work to advance the rights and interests of children and young people in this under-resourced jurisdiction. The Awards are open to all solicitors, barristers, legal volunteers in legal centres or community organisations, legal policy workers and organisations or departments working in the area of children and the law.
Out of several nominations received, two national winners were selected, as well as awards for lawyers in States and Territories. The 2002 winners are:
National Award for Excellent and Outstanding Legal Representation of Children and Young People
Woomera Lawyers Group
National Award for Excellent and Outstanding Legal Representation of Indigenous Children and Young People
Mr Troy Edwards
Award for Outstanding Representation of Children and Young People: NSW - Ms Kerry Graham
ACT - Ms Rosemary Benet
VIC - Mr Tim Mulvany
WA - Ms Fran Marsh
NT - Mr Peter O'Brien QLD - Logan Youth Legal Service SA - Woomera Lawyers Group
National Award for Excellent and Outstanding Legal Representation of
Children and Young People and Award for Outstanding Representation of Children and Young People in South
Australia The Woomera Lawyers’ Group: Jeremy Moore, Paul Boylan, Megan Philpot, Robert
McDonald, Ray Hartigan, Tirana Hassan, Elizabeth Boxall, Kate Chisholm and Alan
Oxenham.
We have all become acutely aware in recent times of Australia's current immigration
policies and the sad plight of children in immigration detention centres in this country.
This year’s award recognises the efforts of some of those who have battled tirelessly
against this situation. Since November 2000, the Woomera Lawyers’ Group has
played a pivotal role in providing legal representation to detainees at the Woomera
Immigration Reception and Processing Centre. Brought together by a powerful
commitment to principles of social and human justice, the Group was the first to
provide independent legal advice at Woomera to refugees seeking asylum. The
Group established the Woomera Legal Outpost in November 2001 to provide free
professional and administrative assistance, and has been on hand to assist many
asylum seekers with their Federal Court appeals.
The Group’s advocacy has focused on: * the provision of better education services;
* the availability of age-appropriate play equipment;
* access to health care services;
* rapid processing of applications for asylum; and
* the placement of unaccompanied minors within the community.
As this list indicates, the work of the Group demonstrates a strong focus in
representing the interests of children and young people, in a situation of particular
vulnerability and disadvantage. They are awarded today for their unique and
invaluable services to the representation of children and young people, and their
commitment to the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
National Award for Excellent and Outstanding Legal Representation of
Indigenous Children and Young People
Troy Edwards, Children’s Court Solicitor, Sydney Regional Aboriginal Corporation
Legal Service (SRACLS)
Troy Edwards achieved outstanding results in his time at Sydney Regional Aboriginal
Corporation Legal Service, including 12 months as the sole Children’s Court Solicitor
for SRACLS at Bidura Children’s Court to July 2002. Mr Edwards’ decision to work
at Bidura was a reflection of his commitment to his ideals and his Aboriginality. His
decision and dedication, as he was working between 60 and 80 hours per week,
meant refusing easier and more lucrative career paths.
In one of the State’s busiest criminal courts, Mr Edwards rapidly developed the
respect of the Magistrates, Court staff and police for the professional and dedicated
manner in which he presented his cases, his thorough knowledge of criminal and
evidence law and excellent advocacy skills. More vitally, he developed a special
rapport with, and the respect of, his indigenous clients and their families.
This award recognises Mr Edwards’ commitment to representing the rights and
interests of Indigenous children and young people.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE IN NSW
Kerry Graham, Youth Drug Court Solicitor, Legal Aid Commission
Kerry Graham’s career history clearly demonstrates her tireless dedication to
advocacy for children and young people. Her achievements include significant
involvement in founding the pilot Youth Drug Court Program, the first of its kind in
Australia and acting as senior solicitor in the Bidura Children’s Court. She drafted
numerous submissions, including a proposal for a pro bono scheme with major law
firm Blake Dawson Waldron which resulted in a children’s solicitor visiting detention
centres. Ms Graham wrote all operational policies for the South Sydney Youth
Service.
Ms Graham’s consistently high standards of advocacy and her dedication have won
her the respect of her peers, Magistrates and clients. Ms Graham has remained
cheerful and a generous source of expertise and advice to her colleagues. She
brings to her work not only commitment and exceptional skills, but also compassion
and understanding that has changed the lives of many young people.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE IN ACT
Rosemary Benet, Lawyer, South Eastern Aboriginal Legal Service
Rosemary Benet has worked hard to achieve her goals. Fortunately for others, her
goals have included being the best advocate she can be for her young clients. Ms
Benet takes a holistic approach to young people in the legal system, and is
constantly looking at ways to divert young people from custodial sentences. Her
commitment to her work has seen her make calls to young clients at police stations
at any time of the day or night, working many hours longer than she is expected to,
and running numerous matters each day in court. She brings to her work her
understanding of the legal issues affecting children within the legal system and
empathy with her clients.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE IN VIC
Tim Mulvany, Barrister and Solicitor
Over thirty years of legal practice, Tim Mulvany has shown outstanding commitment
to families and children. He gives freely of his time to ensure that the wishes of the
child are heard, and the child’s interests protected. His dedication to his principles is
reflected in his compassionate attention to clients, coupled with sound, objective
advice. He often acts pro bono or for a greatly reduced fee. Mr Mulvany’s approach
maximises the possibility of reaching solutions beneficial to children, whilst
minimising the possibility of further unnecessary and traumatic litigation.
Mr Mulvany’s expertise has been recognised by many in relation to child
representation and adoption matters and he has actively worked to inform the legal
and wider community of children’s rights. He has advised and assisted many
committees, including chairing the Victoria Law Institute’s Children and Youth Issues
Committee for the past 3 years, and acting as a member of the Advisory Committee
to the Chief Justice of the Family Court. Mr Mulvany is also the Law Institute's
Family Law Section representative on the Refugee Law Reform Committee.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE IN WA
Fran Marsh Duty Lawyer, Legal Aid
For over a decade, Fran Marsh has represented children and young people without
fear or favour; with compassion, dignity and professionalism. Ms Marsh’s
professionalism and commitment to her clients exist in every aspect of her practice –
she takes the time to develop relationships and a rapport with her clients and their
families. She doesn’t rush her clients at court, helping them to feel more comfortable
with the court process and explaining procedures in a manner that they will
understand.
Children’s liberty is foremost in Ms Marsh’s mind, and she tries her utmost to keep
them out of detention, whether on remand or sentenced. Her positive relationship
with Magistrates, Police and Juvenile Justice personnel means that she is able to
obtain information regarding a child’s record and charges, which assists her in
entering pleas at the earliest opportunity. She is known for negotiating with
prosecution personnel to obtain more favourable bail outcomes and non-legal
sentences. Importantly, as Ms Marsh's nominee states, "Children's liberty is
foremost in her mind and she works hard to keep them out of detention, whether on
remand or sentenced."
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE IN NT
Peter O’Brien, Criminal Solicitor, NAALAS
Peter O’Brien is Awarded today for his tireless and dogged defence of indigenous
children facing mandatory sentencing. Although the Sentencing Act in the Northern
Territory has since changed, Mr O’Brien’s passion and commitment to his clients
remains. He is the sole indigenous children’s solicitor throughout a large part of the
Top End and his passion and dedication to his work are reflected in the many
overtime hours he spends preparing his cases, his participation in law reform projects
and his interest in wider justice issues, such as traditional and customary law as it
relates to juveniles. Successful outcomes he has achieved for his clients include
acquittals and diversions, ensuring that the young person was not detained.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE IN QLD
Logan Youth Legal Service
The Logan Youth Legal Service is recognised today for its excellence over twenty
years in providing legal services to young people across a number of issues. The
Service operates in a low socio-economic area, and the local population is often
marginalised and lacking educational and employment opportunities.
As advocates, the Service has had outstanding successes, including acting for the
appellant in a matter that has become the leading Queensland authority on the role
of an independent person. This decision encouraged the proper implementation by
both police and courts of the provisions and principles of juvenile justice law,
particularly in relation to young people’s vulnerability in legal situations. It is a proud
achievement of the Service that 20% of all charges faced by its clients are reduced,
dismissed or withdrawn. The Service also developed the world’s first youth-specific
legal website. This constantly expanding site answers many of the questions that
young people in Queensland have. The Service has also been very active in law
reform projects, including submissions on mandatory sentencing, strip-searching and
child protection. Youth participation is a significant focus of the work of the Service, as is compliance with the entire UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Service's CROC compliance checklist is used by many within and outside of Queensland.
The dedication of the Service’s staff reflect their own, as well as the organisation's, commitment to addressing social justice issues, respecting the integrity of individuals and promoting self-determination and human rights.
The NCYLC acknowledges the major partners in these Awards: Mallesons Stephen Jaques and the 16th World Congress of the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates.
For further information contact National Children's and Youth Law Centre 02 9398 7488
16th World Congress of the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates
Melbourne, Victoria