Master of Law and Legal Practice, 2009
Law Award
Rebecca has always walked through life with the belief that if you have the capacity to help someone, you should. It’s what inspired her to work as a lawyer. Today she fights for human rights and access to justice through pro bono and community legal services, law reform work, and her roles on committees and advisory groups.
But before Rebecca was championing human rights, she was debating in mock trials in high school and discussing literature and art in her first university degree. After graduating, she began working as a law clerk and fell in in love with the legal world, leading to her pursuing a Master's of Law and Legal Practice at UTS.
Rebecca remembers her time at UTS fondly. It was there she learned the value of connecting and collaborating to achieve a bigger goal. She was also thankful that everyone at the university – from professors to students – encouraged her to bring her whole self to her work. To dive in, be passionate and care. It’s a belief she still stands by as she fights to give refugees, victims of family and sexual violence, human trafficking and modern slavery the life they deserve and the power to carve their own future.
Rebecca’s work has been pivotal in guiding both international and domestic legislation around global social issues. It’s helped examine the intersection between family violence, forced marriage and modern slavery legislation in Australia. And assisted in legal, cultural and social reforms for victim-survivors of those crimes, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Currently, Rebecca is the Principal Solicitor and Clinical Supervisor at the Western Sydney University Justice Clinic, where she passes on her knowledge to the next generation of lawyers. She continues to guide victim-survivors of human rights injustices through the legal system and is also piloting health and justice partnerships to give vulnerable people in the community access to legal counsel.
I’m forever grateful for the life I have. I have good health, an education, a loving family and ultimately the freedom to make my own decisions. I want this for others – I want to help people live the free and fair life they deserve.
