The 2025 Community Legal Centres Queensland Conference will bring the community legal sector together to develop new skills, increase knowledge and collaborate with others.
The conference will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, 23 Leichhardt St, Spring Hill on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 June.
Registrations are now open … click here to register.
Registrations for the 2025 Community Legal Centres Queensland Conference are open.
To register go to: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-community-legal-centres-queensland-conference
Early bird registrations close at 5pm on Thursday, 17 April.
All registrations close at 5pm on Friday, 16 May.
In-person registration (2 day or 1 day option) includes access to conference sessions, catering and the networking event.
Additional tickets to the networking event are available.
Click here to read the 2025 CLCQ Conference T&Cs.
2 Day Registration (Community Legal Centre Staff/Management Committee)
Early Bird (available until 5pm, Thursday 17 April)
$450 +bf
Full Price (available until 5pm, Friday 16 May)
$500 +bf
2 Day Registration (General Public)
Early Bird (available until 5pm, Thursday17 April)
$525 +bf
Full Price (available until 5pm, Friday 16 May)
$575 +bf
1 Day Registration (Community Legal Centre Staff/Management Committee)
Early Bird (available until 5pm, Thursday 17 April)
$275 +bf
Full Price (available until 5pm, Friday 16 May)
$300 +bf
1 Day Registration (General Public)
Early Bird (available until 5pm, Thursday 17 April)
$325 +bf
Full Price (available until 5pm, Friday 16 May)
$350 +bf
Networking Event ONLY
(Wednesday 4 June 4:30-6:30pm)
Early Bird (available until 5pm, Thursday 17 April)
$50 +bf
Full Price (available until 5pm, Friday 16 May)
$65 +bf
Thanks to our generous sponsors, Community Legal Centres Queensland is offering a limited number of scholarships for First Nations, Regional and First Contact staff who are employed at a Queensland Community Legal Centre to attend the 2025 conference.
When awarding the scholarships, preference will be given to people who have not previously attended a conference.
What’s included:
- 2 Day Conference Registration (this provides access to all conference session, catering and the networking event)
What’s not included:
- Travel and accommodation expenses
- Meal and incidental expenses
We strongly encourage individuals rather than organisations to fill out the Scholarship Application form, as if the scholarship program is oversubscribed, the information provided in the application form will be used to allocate the available scholarships.
Applications close Friday 4 April .
All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by COB on Wednesday 9 April. This will enable unsuccessful scholarship applicants to still register before early bird registrations close.
Herbert Smith Freehills
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Community Legal Centres Queensland State Conference, and to support CLCQ’s scholarships to increase the participation of First Nations delegates at this year’s Conference.
HSF is a leading global law firm with Australian offices located in Brisbane/Meanjin, Melbourne/Naarm, Sydney/Warrang, and Perth/Boorloo. HSF’s Pro Bono legal practice is impact-driven and includes systemic advocacy and pro bono legal advice and casework for individuals, charities and NGOs. Supporting First Nations organisations and communities is a core part of our pro bono practice. We also have particular expertise partnering with CLCs to advocate for people with disability and women experiencing homelessness and their families. HSF has a longstanding history of working with CLCs and charities to increase access to justice for the community, including by supporting Queensland-based pro bono clients such as the LawRight Community Health Justice Partnerships, the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS), Yalari and Youngcare.
Minter Ellison
MinterEllison’s Pro Bono and Community Investment Program is driven by a deep commitment to addressing cycles of disadvantage and creating systemic change, across interconnected pillars of human rights and access to justice, homelessness (including domestic and family violence), empowering youth, and First Nations empowerment. The program is designed to create positive impact for our community, not only through pro bono legal advice but also through other non-legal assistance to our community partners, including other skilled volunteering or in-kind assistance, amplifying fundraising and awareness campaigns, and providing charitable giving support.
The Brisbane MinterEllison office is proud to maintain strong partnerships with Community Legal Centres Queensland (CLCQ), as well as several of the community legal centres that comprise its membership. Together, the work of these organisations goes towards addressing all of the four of our Program pillars and most particularly through enhancing access to justice.
As always, MinterEllison’s sponsorship of the 2025 CLCQ conference is targeted towards funding costs of people from rural, regional and remote community legal centres to attend. We understand that there are significant and unique barriers to access to justice in rural, regional and remote areas, and fully support enhancing the opportunities available to community legal centres offering services in these areas.
Hopgood Ganim Lawyers
HopgoodGanim Lawyers is a leading Australian mid-tier legal firm. We are recognised for the exceptional outcomes we deliver to our clients in our key priority markets and our superior approach to client service. Our firm includes over 300 staff with 40+ partners and we operate nationally and internationally with a focus on Asia from our two key locations of Brisbane and Perth.
We have a dedicated pro bono legal practice focused on three priority areas: Working with First Nations peoples to achieve the outcomes they want to achieve; working to mitigate the impact of environmental disasters; and working to reduce family and domestic violence.
Our three impact icons, created by Yaegl artist, Frances Belle Parker, provide a visual representation of our pro bono priority areas
Actionstep
With Actionstep, midsize law firms get total control over their future success. Actionstep’s comprehensive legal business management platform is built to adapt to a firm’s unique strengths and goals, empowering firms to modernise and build a firm advantage in the legal marketplace.
Actionstep’s connected features like client intake, matter management, document management, time tracking, billing, accounting, and business reporting, equips over 38,000 users globally to delight clients, work more profitably, and confidently embrace the future.
Build your firm advantage with Actionstep. Visit www.actionstep.com to learn more.
QLeave
QLeave provides portable long service leave to Queensland’s community services industry. The scheme ensures workers can take a well-earned break after 7 years of continuous service to the sector, regardless of how many organisations they’ve worked with.
Visit QLeave’s booth to learn more about portable long service leave, the benefits it offers you as an employee, and what your obligations are as an employer.
Colin Bigger & Paisley
Founded over a century ago, Colin Biggers & Paisley is one of the most established legal practices in the country. As a national Australian legal practice, we deliver high calibre legal services and we aim to do so in a responsible way.
The Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation was established in 2015 as a way of bringing together our entire community offering. It comprises three streams – pro bono legal services, volunteering and charitable contributions.
The Foundation’s focus areas are women, children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with a deeper focus on access to justice for those experiencing domestic and family violence, gender equality, increasing education and employment opportunities for young people, and protecting the cultural and legal rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We are committed to improving access to justice, reducing unmet legal need and playing a leading role in making the justice system work better.
Allens
We see it as our responsibility to use our skills and resources to help others in the community.
Our people contribute their time and expertise to work on pro bono matters and other community initiatives, with a particular focus on alleviating disadvantage, advancing reconciliation, improving access to justice and promoting sustainability.
Our community strategy focuses on using our skills and resources to benefit the community across a range of pillars, including pro bono, reconciliation, the environment, philanthropy and responsible sourcing.
Ashurst
We consider pro bono as a stand-alone legal practice.
This results in quality legal services for our pro bono clients, provided in accordance with our established pro bono criteria.
Our global pro bono practice has five priority areas including: Citizenship & Displacement; Climate Change; Gender Rights & Diversity; Modern Slavery; and Racial Justice.
Our pro bono team also has expertise in law reform and the role pro bono can play in responding to crises.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper is a multinational law firm with offices in more than 40 countries around the world. It is one of the largest law firms globally and provides a broad range of legal services to clients across various industries.
DLA Piper is committed to social responsibility and actively engages in pro bono work and community initiatives.
DLA Piper’s pro bono mission is to pursue justice in our communities and around the world by strengthening access to justice, particularly for children and asylum seekers. Through New Perimeter, DLA Piper’s global pro bono initiative, we provide pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world to support access to justice, social and economic development and sound legal institutions.
Holding Redlich
Holding Redlich’s strong commitment to human rights and social justice is part of the firm’s DNA. Our pro bono program is an integral part of our work and culture in fulfilling this commitment. We provide pro bono assistance to individuals who would not otherwise have access to a lawyer, and also to not-for-profit or charitable organisations working to promote the public good.
The priority areas for our pro bono work are as follows:
- First Nations Peoples
- Refugees and people seeking asylum
- Women at risk
- Youth at risk
- The arts
- Seniors’ rights and elder abuse
- Charities and not-for-profits
- The environment.
Queensland Law Society
When you become a member of Queensland Law Society (QLS) you are joining a passionate, collegiate community of over 13,000 legal professionals.
No matter where your legal career takes you, your QLS membership is your continuous connection to the heart of the profession and ensures you will always be up to date with the latest knowledge, issues, and changes impacting solicitors in Queensland.
Members have access to a range of exclusive benefits, support and professional recognition opportunities, and are eligible to participate in our advocacy work which helps shape the law and the legal profession.
UQ Pro Bono Centre
The UQ Pro Bono Centre facilitates opportunities for law students to undertake voluntary work with the not-for-profit sector (primarily community legal centres).
Our mission is to be a nationally recognised leader in the development, promotion and provision of student pro bono legal services. We aim to inspire students to understand the value and importance of access to justice, and to graduate from law school with a lifelong professional commitment to pro bono legal service.
Actionstep
With Actionstep, midsize law firms get total control over their future success. Actionstep’s comprehensive legal business management platform is built to adapt to a firm’s unique strengths and goals, empowering firms to modernise and build a firm advantage in the legal marketplace.
Actionstep’s connected features like client intake, matter management, document management, time tracking, billing, accounting, and business reporting, equips over 38,000 users globally to delight clients, work more profitably, and confidently embrace the future.
Build your firm advantage with Actionstep. Visit www.actionstep.com to learn more.
QLeave
QLeave provides portable long service leave to Queensland’s community services industry. The scheme ensures workers can take a well-earned break after 7 years of continuous service to the sector, regardless of how many organisations they’ve worked with.
Visit QLeave’s booth to learn more about portable long service leave, the benefits it offers you as an employee, and what your obligations are as an employer.
Queensland Law Reform Commission
The Queensland Law Reform Commission is Queensland’s independent law reform institution.
Our purpose is a fair, modern and simple legal framework for Queensland. We provide practical, innovative and just recommendations to reform the law on topics selected by the Queensland Attorney-General. These recommendations are based on extensive research, public consultation and the principles of transparency, rigour, impartiality, inclusivity and collaboration. Consultation with stakeholders, including diverse and disadvantaged communities, is an integral part of our law reform process. People who are affected by the laws under review have experience and knowledge of how laws are operating in practice and how practical changes may be made.
We are committed to genuine, respectful, appropriate and culturally safe and informed engagement with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our work and we have established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Reference Group to guide us.
Queensland Law Society
When you become a member of Queensland Law Society (QLS) you are joining a passionate, collegiate community of over 13,000 legal professionals.
No matter where your legal career takes you, your QLS membership is your continuous connection to the heart of the profession and ensures you will always be up to date with the latest knowledge, issues, and changes impacting solicitors in Queensland.
Members have access to a range of exclusive benefits, support and professional recognition opportunities, and are eligible to participate in our advocacy work which helps shape the law and the legal profession.
Queensland Ombudsman
The Office of the Queensland Ombudsman contributes to fair and accountable public administration in Queensland. We do this by investigating complaints about actions of Queensland agencies, helping agencies to improve their practices, inspecting and recommending improvements to detention services and overseeing the system of public interest disclosures.
The Queensland Ombudsman, Mr Anthony Reilly, is also the Inspector of Detention Services (Inspector) and an independent officer of the Parliament. Staff from the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman support the Inspector’s functions under the Inspector of Detention Services Act 2022 (IDS Act).
The goal of the IDS Act is promoting the humane treatment of detainees and the prevention of harm through reviews, inspections and independent reporting.
Under the IDS Act, the Inspector must inspect each prison in Queensland every five years and release a report about the inspection. Recently, the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre inspection report was released, you can read the report.
Under the Ombudsman Act 2001, we investigate complaints about the actions and decisions of Queensland agencies. ‘Agencies’ describes all of the Queensland state government departments, local councils and public authorities that we can investigate.
Sometimes agencies use non-government entities to deliver services to the community. We can also investigate those entities.
Our complaints assessment and investigation service is free and independent.
Visit the Ombudsman’s booth for more information and resources about:
- our IDS responsibilities
- making a complaint
- advising others on how to make an effective complaint
- improving the quality of decision-making and administrative practice if you work in, or for, government agencies.
For further information about the Queensland Ombudsman prior to the conference, please visit our website.
Queensland Public Trustee
Queensland Public Trustee have a key role in Queensland’s guardianship and administration system and has been serving Queenslanders since 1916. Our vision is to be a value for money, independent state trustee service dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the rights, interests and wishes of Queenslanders in need of financial management, estate and trust administration.
Our purpose is to provide trusted financial decision-making, advocacy, education and services to empower Queenslanders to plan and prepare for future life events.
The Services Union
The Services Union is committed to supporting Queensland workers who provide frontline services to their communities. Valuing fairness, justice, democracy, dignity, equality, diversity, inclusion and collectivism, The Services Union believes its members have the right to the dignity of safe and secure work.
The Services Union’s vision is to provide a strong, unified, and courageous voice that consistently advocates for improved working conditions and fair wages. Additionally, it campaigns for broader positive change that benefits not only Queenslanders, but all Australians.
When: Friday 6 June from 9:30am to 12:30pm
Where: Basic Rights Queensland, Creek St
What: This is an interactive session for CLCs who use or are in the process of implementing Actionstep.
Presented by: Skye Forster, Implementation Analyst, Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria).
Cost: $200
This session will enhance CLC’s skills to configure their Actionstep systems by taking real life challenges and workshopping the solutions together. It will assist centres to operationalise their CLC’s strategic plans and embed a simple, flexible model of outcomes measurement into their workflows (or understand how to do so in future).
Starting with a deep dive into data design and use within Actionstep we will explore how to configure your system so it drives your work rather than being a barrier to it. Using models tested for practicality within CLCs, we will work through solutions to the real-life scenarios brought to the session by attendees, as well as building a draft template for outcomes measurement that can be adapted to accommodate any centre’s readiness and level of maturity.
Then, we will explore the wonderful world of exporting Actionstep data to Excel and building pivot tables and charts to draw insights from your data.
Key concepts:
- Custom data
- Customising workflows
- Custom list views
- Outcomes measurement model
- Excel pivot tables/charts
Attendees should bring:
- Laptop
- charging cable
- Actionstep access login – note attendees will need administrator level access for this session and ideally administrator with authority – if that is problematic please contact skye.forster@fclc.org.au to discuss workarounds
Optional:
- Copies of/access to internal documents such as casework guidelines, strategic priorities/plans, impact/outcomes frameworks
- Ideas for improvements to their systems/known issues in need of solution
This masterclass is only available to Queensland community legal centres and registration is limited to ONE person from each centre.
Register: https://events.humanitix.com/masterclass-actionstep-masterclass-beyond-nlap-data
FAQs
Who should attend the conference?
This conference is for people working and volunteering in Community Legal Centres, pro bono lawyers, social workers, academics, and government justice and legal sector employees and decision-makers.
Are there any discounts available?
Staff and Management Committee members are eligible to register at a discounted rate.
Early Bird registrations close at 5pm on Thursday 17 April and all registrations close at 5pm on Friday, 16 May, 2025.
A limited number of scholarship are also available for First Nations, Regional Staff. Scholarship applications close on Friday 4 April. Click here for more information about scholarships: 2025 Scholarship Applications.
How do I register and can I pay via an invoice?
Registration here: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-community-legal-centres-queensland-conference
You can register multiple people and pay via credit card or be issued an invoice. Invoices for early bird tickets must be paid in full by Thursday 17 April and all other invoices much be paid by the close of registrations on Friday 16 May.
What’s included in the cost of registrations?
Conference includes access to conference sessions and material, catering and the networking event.
Can I cancel my registration?
All cancellations must be made in writing to communications@communitylegalqld.org.au. Delegates are entitled to a refund if the cancellation is received on or before 5pm Friday, 16 May, 2025. Each cancellation incurs a 20% administrative fee based on the original fee paid.
Delegates are not entitled to a refund of the registration fees if the cancellation is received after 5pm Friday, 16 May 2025.
Registrations may be transferred to another employee of your organisation. Requests to transfer a registration must be advised in writing to communications@communitylegalqld.org.au
Is there an online option?
No – this year’s conference is an in-person event.
Will the conference be accessible?
The venue is accessible via lift.
If you have specific access requirements, please notify CLCQ by indicating your requirements during the registration process.
Is there accommodation at the conference venue?
Yes, there is accommodation available at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. There are also a number of accommodation providers in walking distance.
How do I get to the venue?
The Hotel Grand Chancellor is on the outskirts of the CBD but conveniently located near Roma Street and Central Train Stations and serviced by a number of buses. See Translink to plan your journey.
Parking is also available at the venue for a fee.
Can I bring extra colleagues to the networking event?
Yes – Networking Event Only tickets are available. The networking event will take place from 4:30pm-6:30pm on Wednesday 4 June.
Further questions?
Email communications@communitylegalqld.org.au
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully
Terms and Conditions
COVID-19
As a condition of attendance, delegates, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers must agree to adhere to all Covid-safe measures put in place at the 2025 Community Legal Centres Queensland (CLCQ) Conference by the venue, and all federal or state guidelines and you acknowledge that these measures may be changed at any time in accordance with the latest health advice from state and federal governments.
PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION
The payment of the registration is made either by credit card at the time of registrations or by invoice. Full payment for registrations invoiced as “early bird” must be paid prior to the early bird period ending at 5pm Thursday, 17 April.
All other registrations must be paid must be paid to registrations closing at 5pm Friday, 16 May. Any unpaid registrations will be cancelled.
Invoice will be issued by Humanitix.
DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION
To qualify for early bird registration, registrations must be completed by 5pm on Thursday, 17 April 2025.
LATE REGISTRATION
CLCQ cannot guarantee the availability of late registrations.
TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION
All fully paid registrations are transferable to other persons from the same organisation. Transfers can be made by the registered person in writing to communications@communitylegalqld.org.au by 5pm, Friday 16 May 2025. Details must include the full name of the replacement person/s, their title, contact phone number, email address and dietary requirements. All other registration details will be carried over to the new person/s unless otherwise specified. Registrations are individual and cannot be shared amongst individuals.
NON-ATTENDANCE/NO-SHOWS
No refund will be made for non-attendance at the 2025 CLCQ Conference, social events or masterclasses.
CANCELLATION OF THE REGISTRATION BY THE DELEGATE
All cancellations must be made in writing to communications@communitylegalqld.org.au. Delegates are entitled to a refund if the cancellation is received on or before 5pm Friday, 16 May 2025. Each cancellation incurs a 20% administrative fee based on the original fee paid.
Delegates are not entitled to a refund of the registration fees if the cancellation is received after 5pm Friday, 16 May 2025.
Refunds (less applicable administrative fees) will be processed no later than 30 days after the conclusion of 2025 CLCQ Conference.
CANCELLATION, POSTPONEMENT OR CHANGE OF REGISTRATION BY CLCQ
It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of CLCQ or the Venue to alter the times, dates, itineraries of or speakers at the 2025 CLCQ Conference or postpone the conference itself, by notice to delegates at any time.
In the event of postponement of the 2025 CLCQ Conference, registrations will be transferred to the rescheduled event. Where the delegate does not wish to attend the rescheduled event, a full refund will be provided.
If the event is cancelled by CLCQ, delegates will receive a full refund.
USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
CLCQ will collect and store information provided in this Registration Form for the purposes of enabling them to:
- register attendance;
- assist with administrative and planning purposes;
- plan and develop the conference and other events in the future;
- facilitate delegate requirements; and
- allow the compilation and analysis of statistics relevant to the conference.
DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTIES
CLCQ will not without your consent, use or disclose your personal information to third parties for any purpose unless such purpose is permitted or required by law.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY USE
By registering for the 2025 CLCQ Conference, all delegates grant permission to CLCQ and its agents to take photographs and video footage to reproduce and to distribute on social media, promotional materials and other sector publications, whether in print, electronic or other media, including the CLCQ website.
If you have any concerns regarding the use of photographs/screen shots taken of you during the Conference and / or you do not agree to the above image release please contact communications@communitylegalqld.org.au or see the registration desk during event.
2025 Program
8.15 – 9.00am
Registration & Coffee
Plenary 1
9.00 – 9.30am
Welcome to Country
Conference Official Opening – Queensland Attorney-General The Hon Deb Frecklington
9.30 – 10:30am
The National Anti-Racism Framework
presented by Giridharan Sivaraman, Race Discrimination Commissioner
10:30 – 11:00am
Morning Tea
11.00 – 12.30pm
Room: Roma and Terrace
Automating (in)justice: thinking beyond the hype of AI and automated-decision making
presented by Lizzie O’Shea, Chair of Digital Rights Watch
Is AI our savior or our demise? Will it lead to a high-tech utopia, or go full terminator?
In this session we’ll look beyond the hype to unpack the risks, consequences and human rights implications of AI and automated decision making systems, including AI tools that claim to assist with providing access to justice.
Join Lizzie as she dissects the promises and perils of AI and ADM, especially as they relate to social equality and justice.
Room: Wickham
Community Legal Centre Sector Planning Workshop
12:30 – 1:30pm
Lunch Session
12:45 – 1:15pm
Concurrent Sessions
1.30 – 3.00pm
Stream 1: Running a community legal centre
Room: Roma
Fostering positive and productive CLC workplaces: Exploring practical approaches
Panel featuring Stephen Grace – Lawright, Rose Mackay – LawRight, Hayley Grainger – North Queensland Women’s Legal Service and facilitated by Joan Wilson-Jones.
With significant headwinds in recruiting and retaining our CLC workforce, questions of why people would want to work in a CLC – and why they would want to stay – are more pressing than ever.
Alongside legislative obligations, the evolution of what it means to be a modern not-for-profit and an employer of choice are creating strong forces for change in how we lead and support our people.
Our panel of representatives will talk with Joan Wilson-Jones about their own experiences in grappling with key workforce issues, explore the drivers for change in each organisation, what’s been successful as well as challenging, and what lies ahead.
Stream 2: Frontline Workers.
Room: Terrace
Embedding Outcome Measurement in CLC Practice – getting started and levelling up
presented by Skye Forster, Data Transformation Specialist – Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria
Outcomes measurement can seem daunting and resource intensive but it doesn’t have to be. This session will demonstrate a simple, scalable, flexible model that has been co-designed with multiple CLCs to embed neatly into everyday practices and systems to centre the client experience. Come along to find out what can be achieved with a small amount of consideration and effort. Session will include case studies, evidence and practical guidance supported by resources for you to take, adapt and use.
Stream 3: Supporting people and communities.
Room: Wickham
Climate Disaster Legal Assistance
3:00 -3:30pm
Concurrent Sessions
3.30 – 4.30pm
Stream 1: Running a community legal centre
Room: Roma
Sector Update
The Sector Update will share information about the current issues impacting the CLC sector from the perspectives of Community Legal Centres Australia, Community Legal Centres Queensland and the Department of Justice.
Stream 2: Frontline Workers.
Room: Terrace
Working with the Public Trustee
Stream 3: Supporting people and communities.
Room: Wickham
Connect & Persuade: Mastering the Principles of Effective Data Storytelling and Visualisation
presented by Rhetta Chappell, Data Scientist & Partnership Lead, Griffith University’s Relational Insights Data Lab (RIDL)
Professionals everywhere often grapple with presenting complex data in a way that resonates with clients, community, judges, and juries and the stakes for clear communication are high, but traditional methods of sharing data can fail to engage or persuade.
This one-hour session is designed to transform how community legal professionals communicate data. This session will empower you to turn raw data into clarity and persuasion—because in law, the story you tell can change the verdict.
4.30 – 6.30pm
Networking drinks & canapes in the downstairs courtyard
8.15 – 9.00am
Registration & Coffee
9.00 – 10.30am
Amplifying First Nations women for more just and sustainable future
presented by Terri Reid, Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice
This session explores the importance of amplifying First Nations women’s voices and leadership across systems of justice, governance, and care. Drawing on the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project, led by June Oscar AO, the session will reflect on what gender justice means in practice for First Nations communities today.
It will consider how legal and community-based sectors can better uphold peacebuilding and healing practices across communities’ wellbeing, and contribute to meaningful, community-led change.
Participants will be invited to reflect on their own roles in advancing First Nations gender justice, and how they can help reweave the social fabric to create more just and caring futures.
10:30 – 11:00am
Morning Tea
11:00am – 12:30pm
The Future of Human Rights in Queensland
Featuring:
- Hugh de Kretser, President Australian Human Rights Commission
- Scott McDougall, Queensland Human Rights Commissioner
- Katherine Hayes, CEO Youth Advocacy Centre
- and facilitated by Mandy Shircore Adjunct Associate Professor Southern Cross University.
12:30 – 1:30pm
Lunch
12:45 – 1:15pm
Lunch & Learn – How to Pro Bono
Concurrent Sessions
1.30 – 3.00pm
Stream 1: Running a community legal centre
Room: Roma
Enhancing Financial Acumen
presented by Dr John Sing, Director of Ramafin
The workshop session consists of an introduction to financial information for decision making within a not-for-profit context with the specific
learning objectives to:
• Explain the underpinning finance principles & assumptions
• Build confidence in reading, analysing and interpreting financial information
• Examine the relationships between the key financial statements and
• Explain how the information contained in the financial statements can be
analysed and interpreted to enable informed decision making.
Stream 2: Frontline Workers.
Room: Terrace
Changes to coercive control legislation
presented by Courtney Thorne, Leanne Collingburn and Margaret Arthur, HopgoodGanim Lawyers
This session will consider the suite of legislative and policy reforms in response to coercive control across Australia, but with a focus on Queensland.
We will consider the practical application of some of these reforms both in the context of intimate partner violence and broader intergenerational violence and abuse.
Stream 3: Supporting people and communities.
Room: Wickham
Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace
presented by Brendon Eglinton, Learning and Development Manager ASA
This session will feature a broad overview of neurodiversity and explore how neurodivergence can present at work and why a neurodivergent work environment can benefit everyone.
3:00 – 3:30pm
Afternoon Tea
Concurrent Sessions
3.30 – 4.30pm
Stream 1: Running a community legal centre
Room: Roma
CLCQ Climate Risk Governance Guide
presented by Monica Taylor, QUT
It is often easy to lose sight of the profound existential threat posed by climate change when it is viewed as a risk to be managed.
Queensland is on the frontline of climate change impacts; it is the most disaster-prone state in Australia and will experience some of the harshest climatic projections in the coming decades.
Does your CLC have the knowledge and strategies necessary to address the complex legal and risk management challenges that climate change presents?
This session will unpack the Climate and Nature-related Risk Governance Guide for CLCs.
Stream 2: Frontline Workers.
Room: Terrace
PII session
Stream 3: Supporting people and communities.
Room: Wickham
Welcome to the Sector – trivia and networking for CLC newcomers
Speakers
Derek Oram Sandy
Giridharan Sivaraman
Terri Reid
Lizzie O’Shea
Hugh de Kretser
Katherine Hayes
Scott McDougall
Brendon Eglinton
Courtney Thorne
Joan Wilson-Jones
Dr John Sing
Leanne Collingburn
Margaret Arthur
Monica Taylor
Rhetta Chappell
Rose Mackay
Skye Forster
Stephen Grace
Derek Oram Sandy
Derek Oram Sandy is the eldest son of Marissa Sandy and Derek Oram. He was born in his mothers country of the Yerongpan clan, descending from the Yerongpan and Miguntyun clans from Brisbane and the Mununjali clan from Beaudessert. On his fathers side he carries the bloodlines of Gangulu, Burrigubba, Wakka Wakka, Butchulla and Durumbul. Derek along with his four younger siblings grew up in South East Brisbane. Derek spent majority of his adolescence moving between the suburbs of Ipswich and Logan. Growing up in his mothers country subconsciously created a strong connection to the land and his ancestors of the Brisbane region.
In 2016 the Yerongpan Aboriginal Dancers company was established. Derek combined the things he loved; family, dance, singing and art and created a maintainable lifestyle. It didn’t take long for the word to spread.
Derek now spends every day of his life boosting Indigenous Australian’s spirit through identity and educating non-indigenous Australians about the First Australians history at Early Learning Centres, Primary Schools, High Schools, Universities, Libraries and private organisations. Derek aims to keep the ancient culture of his ancestors alive and continue to pass down the knowledge through song and dance.
Giridharan Sivaraman
Giridharan Sivaraman commenced as Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner in March 2024. Prior to becoming Commissioner, he was Principal Lawyer with Maurice Blackburn where he led the firm’s Queensland Employment Law department. He also held the position of Chair of Multicultural Australia from 2021-2024 and was a member of the Queensland Multicultural Advisory Council from 2019-2024, where he was an advocate for the rights of victims of racial vilification.
Commissioner Sivaraman was born in India and migrated to Australia as a child. His anti-discrimination legal and advocacy work is based on his strong passion for human rights, as well as his moral conviction to speak truth to power and fight for the rights of the marginalised, oppressed, and vilified.
The Race Discrimination Commissioner is a statutory position within the Australian Human Rights Commission. Under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (RDA), this position is responsible for promoting equality between people of different backgrounds, conducting research and educational programs to combat racial discrimination, and protecting people from unfair treatment or vilification on the basis of their race, colour, descent, visa status, or national or ethnic origin.
Conference Session:
Wednesday 4 June 9:00-10:30am
Terri Reid
Terri Reid is a Wuthathi, Meriam and Gamilaroi woman and works to regional and international engagement at the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice.
Conference Session
Thursday 5 June 9am to 10:30am
Amplifying First Nations women for more just and sustainable future
Lizzie O’Shea
Lizzie is the founder and the chair of Digital Rights Watch, which advocates for human rights online.
She also sits on the board of Blueprint for Free Speech. At the National Justice Project, she worked with lawyers, journalists and activists to establish a Copwatch program, for which she was a recipient of the Davis Projects for Peace Prize. She was named a Human Rights Hero by Access Now.
As a lawyer, Lizzie sues technology companies that have done the wrong thing. She has also spent many years working in public interest litigation, on cases brought on behalf of refugees and activists, among others. She was proud to represent an abortion clinic in their battle to stop harassment of their staff and patients, as well as the Traditional Aboriginal Owners of Muckaty Station, in their successful attempt to stop a nuclear waste dump being built on their land.
Her book, Future Histories (Verso), looks at radical social movements and theorists from history and applies them to debates we have about digital technology today. It was shortlisted for the Premier’s Literary Award
Conference session:
Thursday 5 June 11:00am-12:30pm
Automating (in)justice: thinking beyond the hype of AI and automated-decision making
Hugh de Kretser
Hugh de Kretser commenced his five-year term as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission on 30 July 2024.
For more than two decades, Hugh has played a critical role advancing human rights in Australia. Before joining the Commission, he was the CEO of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the first formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Nations people in Victoria. He previously worked as the Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre and the Executive Officer of the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres.
Hugh has also served as a Commissioner of the Victorian Law Reform Commission and a Director of the Sentencing Advisory Council. He has held a range of not-for-profit board, governance and advisory positions. He worked as a community lawyer in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs and started his legal career advising companies on employment and anti-discrimination law.
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 11am – 12:30pm
The Future of Human Rights in Queensland: Panel Discussion
Katherine Hayes
Katherine is the CEO of the Youth Advocacy Centre, a community legal centre that provides legal and social support for young people in Queensland.
Katherine joined YAC in 2022 with over 20 years of corporate law experience with a desire to make positive change in the community.
As youth justice issues have begun to dominate political debates, Katherine has become a vocal advocate for the rights of children whose voices are often left out of the story.
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 11am – 12:30pm
The Future of Human Rights in Queensland: Panel Discussion
Scott McDougall
Scott McDougall has served as Queensland’s Human Rights Commissioner since 2018, having moved to the Commission from his previous role as Director and Principal Solicitor at Caxton Legal Centre Inc. in Brisbane.
Admitted to legal practice in 1993, Scott has dedicated his career to advocating for marginalised communities and litigating in areas such as discrimination, native title, criminal law, guardianship, and coronial inquiries. He has designed and implemented numerous legal and social service programs and served as President of the Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services from 2009 to 2013.
Scott has spearheaded various initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration between governments and local communities, including the Palm Island Future Direction Report (2006) and the G20 Independent Legal Observers Project (2014).
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 11am – 12:30pm
The Future of Human Rights in Queensland: Panel Discussion
Brendon Eglinton
As ASA’s Learning and Development Manager, Brendon brings over two decades in learning and development partnerships across multiple tech, finance and service industries.
Along with providing neurodiversity awareness training and workshops across and outside of industry, Brendon’s focus at ASA is collaborating and consulting with stakeholders to recognise and harness natural learning habits, to generate and implement engaging learning experiences for change and development for all staff throughout their employment journey.
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 1:30-3:00pm
Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace
Courtney Thorne
Courtney Thorne is a solicitor who is currently working in the Family and Relationship Law team at HopgoodGanim Lawyers.
Prior to this, Courtney spent one year working in HopgoodGanim’s Pro Bono team. During this time, Courtney was seconded to Caxton Legal Centre in the Family, Domestic Violence and Elder Law Practice. She has gained experience working on domestic and family violence matters in the civil jurisdiction where she has assisted victim-survivors to obtain protection and also helped parties who have been wrongly identified as the respondent.
Courtney also serves as the Events Officer for Pride in Law, where she actively contributes to fostering inclusivity and diversity within the legal profession.
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 1:30 – 3:00pm
Changes to coercive control legislation
Joan Wilson-Jones
Joan Wilson Jones is a consultant, presenter, trainer and coach who specialises in building capability in teams through connected leadership and the establishment of collaborative team environments.
Her expertise includes leadership, change management, workplace feedback, conflict management, cultural interactions, creating supportive team cultures, resilience, wellbeing and motivation, health and work life balance. Joan holds a Master of Education (Adult and Workplace Education) and a BA in Cultural Studies and has over four decades of diverse experience to draw on, including managing successful teams in the community services sector.
Joan has worked with both public and private sector organisations, and has extensive experience working with a range of Community Legal Centres across Queensland.
Conference Session:
Fostering positive and productive CLC workplaces: Exploring practical approaches
Dr John Sing
As a Company Director and Adjunct Associate Professor, John has a number of years of experience in both industry and academia. The combination of the technical accounting/auditing domain together with his education and business management qualifications integrate extremely well in bringing relevancy to his current role. Prior to establishing his own consulting and professional development training company, John had worked for over 6 years as Chief Financial Officer within the Queensland Public Sector where he was responsible for leading and implementing the Government’s financial and economic reform agenda. This included overseeing the organizations transition from cash based to accrual accounting, financial reporting in accordance with international accounting standards, management reporting to the CEO and governing board of directors, risk and project management (strategic and operational) and commercializing the water and wastewater business units.
John has conducted numerous management, leadership, risk, financial and project management related courses for both private and public sector organizations in Australia, North America Europe and Asia Pacific. He was recruited to industry after having been a full-time academic where he has researched and taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the domains of financial accounting, auditing, project and risk management. He is currently involved in the development and delivery of specialized governance for directors, project management, finance, financial accounting and risk management programs in a number of national and international destinations. He is also currently delivering post graduate award courses in finance and project management
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 1:30-3:00pm
Enhancing Financial Acumen
Leanne Collingburn
Leanne is a leading pro bono lawyer, practising exclusively in pro bono since 2014.
Leanne has experience in pro bono practice management, social impact and reconciliation programs.
She is Partner and Head of Pro Bono at HopgoodGanim Lawyers, Management Committee Secretary at Caxton Legal Centre and Former Board member of the Australian Pro Bono Centre.
She has particular expertise working with First Nations peoples on First Nations-led reform and initiatives, supporting and advocating for victims / survivors of domestic and family violence and tackling environmental legal issues, including disaster preparedness and response.
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 1:30 – 3:00pm
Changes to coercive control legislation
Margaret Arthur
Margaret is one of only 45 accredited succession law specialists in Queensland and is special counsel at HopgoodGanim Lawyers on the Wills and Estate team.
Her main areas of practice include disputes arising out of wills and estates including family provision claims, all aspects of estate planning and guardianship, administration matters, intra-family matters, and disputes arising out of Enduring Powers of Attorney and compensation claims for breach of duties.
Conference session
Thursday 5 June 1:30 – 3:00pm
Changes to coercive control legislation
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Monica Taylor
Monica is a climate and disaster justice expert based at Queensland University of Technology. She was involved in the creation of this guide through her former work delivering the climate and disaster resilience capacity building project with CLCQ in 2023/4.
Monica also serves as Board Chair of Psychology for a Safe Climate Inc. and is a Director of Lawyers for Climate Justice Australia Ltd.
Conference Session:
CLCQ Climate Risk Governance Guide
Thursday 5 June 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Rhetta Chappell
Rhetta Chappell is the Data Science and Partnerships Lead at Griffith University’s Relational Insights Data Lab (RIDL). In this role she leads a growing team of high-performing data analysts and provides strategic direction on complex, mission and data-driven projects for industry, government, and academic partners. Her role as a speaker at the Royal Statistical Society Conference in Scotland and the IEEE eScience conference in Japan highlights her standing in the field. Rhetta developed a mirco-credential on data communication which has been delivered to over 3,500 bank employees and has a special interest in quantifying and measuring impact. Rhetta’s work is not just about data analysis; it’s about creating sustainable, impactful solutions aligned with global initiatives like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Rhetta’s strengths are in strategic relationship building, stakeholder engagement, the design and implementation of robust statistical analyses, data storytelling, engaging information design, and the building of actionable and innovative data solutions. After completing a degree in Anthropology in Canada, Rhetta has gone on to complete post graduate qualifications in statistics, data science and machine learning and recently completed her MBA at Griffith University in Queensland. Rhetta is passionate about making data matter, and to do this she uses co-design methods and focuses on aligning data insights and narratives to business goals and objectives, ensuring value and transparency. Rhetta also hosts a podcast about using data to support thriving communities called, Show Me the Data.
Conference session
Wednesday 4 June 2:30-4:30pm
Connect & Persuade: Mastering the Principles of Effective Data Storytelling and Visualisation
Rose Mackay
Rose Mackay is the Director of LawRight’s Pro Bono Connect program.
Rose has been at LawRight for over 7 years, after more than 10 years in top-tier national firms in property and taxation. Rose looks after assessing and triaging applications, providing advice, and managing referrals to the private profession. She believes in the importance of developing and maintaining strong relationships with firms and barristers, to help the private profession meet their pro bono goals and to ensure that the best legal assistance is provided to vulnerable individuals and not-for-profits in Queensland.
Rose is also a member of the Queensland Law Society’s Access to Justice and Pro Bono Law Committee.
Conference Session:
Fostering positive and productive CLC workplaces: Exploring practical approaches
Skye Forster
Skye is the Data Transformation Specialist at Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria and has two decades of experience managing projects, people and stakeholders in a broad range of industries including legal, finance, sales, retail and hospitality.
She has overseen change management and innovation projects at Community Legal Centres and been instrumental in improving infrastructure and business processes. Skye is passionate about streamlining data collection and using clever analysis and insights to design better services for those the sector help.
Her current role has seen her support 32 (and counting) CLCs in Victoria to implement or improve modern case management systems, build a thriving CLC Data Community of Practice and become an ‘accidental’ CLC outcomes measurement innovator and catalyst.
Conference session:
Wednesday 4 June 1:30 – 3:00pm
Embedding Outcome Measurement in CLC Practice – getting started and levelling up
Stephen Grace
Stephen is the Director of LawRight’s Community & Health Justice Partnerships | Homelessness Law and Multicultural Law program.
He has over ten years’ experience in multidisciplinary, embedded community legal services. Prior to starting his current role, Steve spent a combined 6 years as the manager of LawRight’s Homelessness Law and Justice Connect’s Homeless Law programs. While working in Cairns, Steve was a casual academic with James Cook University. He believes passionately in the holistic benefits of integrated, client-centred health and legal services, and is a co-Chair of the With You National Legal Assistance Sector Trauma-Informed Community of Practice.
Stephen was nominated for the 2024 Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards in the Access to Justice category.
Conference Session:
Fostering positive and productive CLC workplaces: Exploring practical approaches