Law Health Justice Community Advocacy Clinic

The LHJ Community Advocacy Clinic is a collaboration between UTS Law and Health Justice Australia, the national organisation fostering partnerships between health and law professionals to address complex social issues. Unlike traditional clinics, this Clinic is not a source of one-on-one legal advice.  Rather, it tackles systemic community issues by conducting analysis and advocating for change. Here, student interns, academic supervisors, and community partners come together to explore how law and health professions can work together, and alongside other disciplines, to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Who we are

Our first Clinic team included Law students Jack Churchward and Jorja Reid, joined by Public Health students Charlie Sheather, Ivy Oware, Jordan McGreal, Madeline Di Mauro, and Mia McCue. This diverse team pooled their unique perspectives and areas of expertise to tackle a complex health justice issue.

Our collaborations

Throughout the Clinic, we were supported by incredible mentors and professionals including Cathy Bucolo and Emily McCarron from Health Justice Australia; Julia Wren (Parent Advocate) and Kenn Clift (Lawyer) from IDRS; Terri Libesman, Associate Professor of Law at UTS; Natalie O’Brien, former Chief of Staff at GetUP!; Evelyn Rose from Law Health Justice; and our lead academic supervisor, Michael Thomson, Professor of Health Law at UTS. Their guidance, expertise, and unwavering support were invaluable to our work. Purpose of the Clinic

Our Clinic focused on prenatal reporting – a practice that has been under scrutiny for its impact on disabled parents, and identified as a significant cause for concern by the recent Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Our team delved into how prenatal reports are used, often unfairly, in judging the parenting skills of disabled pregnant people. These reports allow anyone to notify the Department of Communities and Justice about a potential risk to a child, but they can unjustly conflate disability with risk and parental unfitness. These impacts are even more marked for First Nations parents with disabilities. The Royal Commission flagged these reports as discriminatory and out of step with Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Focusing our work on the legal and procedural landscape in New South Wales, our goal was to clarify what prenatal reports mean for individuals, families, and support workers. We also hoped to educate lawyers, many of whom are unaware of these reports until clients come to them for advice.

How we tackled the issue

Over the semester, we created three key resources to challenge biases within the New South Wales child protection system:

• Prenatal Reports for Parents with Disabilities: This leaflet, written in clear, accessible language, explains prenatal reporting and the rights of disabled parents who may become involved with the child protection system. It also identifies support resources for parents with disabilities, including Indigenous Australians. The leaflet is designed to inform and empower its readers.
• Information Leaflet for Lawyers: This document is aimed at legal practitioners and provides a breakdown of the prenatal reporting process in NSW. It includes common triggers for reporting, such as homelessness or unmanaged mental health issues, and offers best practices for working with disabled clients, particularly Indigenous clients. By building cultural competency, we hope to encourage more effective legal advocacy.
• Advocacy Letter: Sent to NSW parliamentarians, this letter spotlighted the heavy-handed use of child protection measures on disabled and Indigenous parents. It advocated for specific policy changes, such as parent advocates and increased legal support. This letter also served as the foundation for a submission we were invited to make to a Department of Communities and Justice policy review.

Our experiences in the Clinic

What motivated us to join

Each of us had our own reasons for joining the Clinic. Some of us were drawn by the interdisciplinary nature of the project, like Madeline, who was excited by “the collaboration between law and health students.” Others, like Jorja, saw it as a chance to “gain experience more tailored to [her] interests,” while Mia was inspired by the Clinic’s “call for justice.” Many of us, including Jack, were new to working in policy and social justice, making the project both challenging and eye-opening. “I wanted to diversify my university experience,” Jack explained, seeing the Clinic as a chance to explore alternative career paths.

The positive impact

The Clinic was an inspiring and informative experience for all of us. It provided opportunities to network with “experienced professionals within the broad health sector” (Mia) and gain a deeper understanding of child protection systems. For Jorja, it offered “insight into the workings of child protection systems in practice,” while Jordan appreciated collaborating with people across different sectors. This interdisciplinary teamwork was not only educational but also incredibly fulfilling, with Ivy noting, “I’m looking forward to my future career in this industry.”

Challenging preconceptions

Before the Clinic, most of us knew little about prenatal reporting or its effects on disabled parents – which made the project even more fascinating. The project opened our eyes to the injustices faced by disabled people in the child protection system, as Mia shared: she now has “a better perspective on the issues within child protection.” For Ivy, this experience illuminated how “people with disabilities face high rates of persecution across various areas, from employment to healthcare.”

Learning through challenges

Throughout the Clinic, we developed a range of skills and gained new perspectives. Some learnt more about their field of study. Jack who is studying law “[learnt] about the frailties of international conventions” and that Australia’s child protection practices often contradict the UNCRPD principles. Similarly, Mia, who studies Health Science, said that she had a “better understanding of the laws and those institutions in power” which gave her another perspective on issues in healthcare. Whereas others learnt more about themselves and more about working together in a partnership, especially th challenge of working across disciplines.

Professional impact

The Clinic experience will shape our future careers in meaningful ways. For some, like Jack, it reinforced a commitment to ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, while for others, like Madeline, it provided an invaluable introduction to advocacy in public health. “The Clinic gave me a better understanding of health promotion,” Charlie noted, particularly the value of “working with communities to identify needs and common goals.” Jorja observed that “the experience deepened my understanding of the role law and policy play in social change,” and equipped her with skills for interdisciplinary work beyond academia.

The power of partnership

Health Justice Australia highlights the importance of collaboration between health and legal professionals, which we came to appreciate deeply. Jordan observed that “health interacts with the law in various ways,” and that cross-disciplinary teamwork was essential. Jorja pointed out that “each professional brings different skills and knowledge, which fosters a holistic approach to addressing complex issues.” While partnerships can be challenging, Charlie recognised that “overcoming those challenges leads to the best ideas and outcomes.”

Reflections on the clinic

The LHJ Community Advocacy Clinic has been a transformative experience. We now understand the complexities of prenatal reporting and the disproportionate impact on disabled and First Nations communities. The outputs we produced aim to provide critical information, support effective advocacy, and empower those affected. We each gained skills and insights that will guide us in our careers, inspiring us to champion social justice. “I hope to carry these lessons into my future career in health promotion,” Charlie said, summarising our shared vision. 

We wholeheartedly recommend the Clinic to future students.