Justice Awards

The 2011 Justice Awards ceremony was held on Monday 24 October at Parliament House where 360 guests from across New South Wales gathered to celebrate and honour the commitment and achievements of 34 individuals and 25 organisations to improving access to justice, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people. To find out more about the nominees you can download a copy of Justice Awards program. A list of all the nominees appears below.

Public nominations were invited for the Justice Medal, Aboriginal Justice Award, Law and Justice Volunteer Award, and Pro Bono Partnership Award and the winners were selected by an independent panel appointed by the Foundation's Board.

The Foundation was honoured to have Dr Tom Calma deliver the Law and Justice Address this year [a transcript of Dr Calma's speech will be uploaded when available].

Award winners

We are pleased to announce the winners of this year's awards:

Justice Medal
John McKenzie was awarded the Justice Medal for his unwavering commitment, over the past 30 years, to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people and to ensuring the underlying causes of Aboriginal over-representation in the criminal justice system are strategically pursued.
John McKenzie is currently Chief Legal Officer, Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT

Aboriginal Justice Award
Jan Fennell was awarded the Aboriginal Justice Award for her commitment to developing and initiating projects to foster a healthy relationship between the police and her local community. Jan's initiatives have helped the community to find local solutions to problems such as truancy, anti-social behaviour, crime and alcohol.
Jan Fennell is currently Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer, NSW Police (Menindee)

Pro Bono Partnership Award
The Pro Bono Partnership Award went to Women's Legal Services NSW, Blake Dawson, Clayton Utz, Freehills, NSW Bar Association and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, for their work which has brought about positive change for victims of sexual assault. Their partnership has resulted in the establishment of a permanent, statewide service dedicated to advising and representing victims to assert the Sexual Assault Communications Privilege and thereby prevent the disclosure of victims' personal counselling records in court.

Law and Justice Volunteer Award
For the first time, there were joint winners of this Award. Both winners were noted for their strength and courage in overcoming significant personal challenges, and then dedication to moving beyond those challenges to help others.

• Kat Armstrong was recognised for her commitment to helping women in the criminal justice to re-establish themselves in the community, and her work as one of the founders of Women in Prison Advocacy Network (WIPAN).
• Janice Daisley was recognised for her 30 year commitment to People with Disability, where her high level advocacy and leadership skills has earned her the respect of ministers, senior public servants and the broader community.

Law Society President's Award
Jim Marsden was awarded the Law Society President's Award for his significant contribution to and support of the Law Society's Pro Bono Scheme. Jim has undertaken a large volume of complex family and criminal law matters for the Scheme, often at short notice.

Community Legal Centres NSW (CLCNSW) Award
Michael Steinfeld was awarded the CLCNSW Award for his 27 years as a volunteer at Kingsford Legal Centre. Michael has assisted thousands of disenfranchised clients at Kingsford Legal Centre and provided pro bono assistance to prisoners at Long Bay.

Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC) Award
Two libraries received a LIAC Award this year:

• Coffs Harbour City Library received a LIAC Award for their innovative Law Week program which included two workshops delivered by Women's Legal Services NSW – 'Women and the Law' for community members, and 'Accessing Justice' for community workers assisting women affected by domestic violence, and showcased the Find Legal Answers Tool Kit.
• Lismore City Library received a LIAC Award for their ongoing program, Free Law Talks, which is run in conjunction with the Law Society of NSW and supported by the Find Legal Answers Toolkit . The talks cover topics such as wills and estates, personal injury, animal law and ethical eating, debt, and older persons and the law, and the library also conducts regular outreach sessions at local high schools.

The 2011 Justice Awards was made possible through the support of our event sponsors: Department of Attorney General and Justice, NSW Bar Association, National Pro Bono Resource Centre, Law Society of NSW, Community Legal Centres NSW, Legal Information Access Centre, Chalk & Fitzgerald, Clayton Utz, Freehills, Gilbert + Tobin, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Minter Ellison, and the barristers of Seven Wentworth.

Nominees

The Foundation congratulates the individuals and organisations who were nominated for their outstanding contributions to improving access to justice.

Justice Medal Nominees

• Deng Thiak Adut, Solicitor, Grays Legal
• Richard Brading, Principal Solicitor, Wesley Community Legal Service
• Luke Geary, Managing Partner, Salvos Legal and Salvos Legal Humanitarian
• John McKenzie, Principal Solicitor, Aboriginal Legal Service
• Fred Moore, activist
• Jeremy Rea, Solicitor, Homeless Persons Legal Service (PIAC)
• Peter Rowe, Consultant, Freehills
• Neisha Shepherd, Solicitor
• Michael Vassili, Honorary Principal Solicitor, Toongabbie Legal Centre
• Nicole Wells, Founder, Survivors Australia

Aboriginal Justice Award Nominees

• Leah Cruickshank, Children's Court Assistance Scheme Coordinator, Macquarie Legal Centre
• Kay Dundas, Aboriginal Family and Support Worker, Walla Mulla Community Support
• Jan Fennell, Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer, NSW Police Service
• Management Team, Aboriginal Legal Service 
• Beryl Van-Oploo, Manager, Yaama Dhiyaan
• Michelle Wellington, ACCS Officer, Nowra Local Court
• Michael Williams, Licensing Sergeant, NSW Police Service

Law and Justice Volunteer Award Nominees

• Dr Frank Ainsworth, President, Family Inclusion Network NSW
• Kat Armstrong, Chair, WIPAN
• Court Support Volunteers, Community Restorative Centre
• Court Support Volunteers, Sisters of Charity Outreach
• Janice Daisley, President, People with Disability Australia
• Gamarada Leaders Group, Gamarada Indigenous Healing and Life Training
• Margaret Jones, Redfern Legal Centre
• Graham Symes, Founder, Traffic Offenders Program
• Ann Symonds (Patron) and Helen Wiseman (Chair), SHINE for Kids

Pro Bono Partnership Award Nominees

• Aids Council of NSW and Freehills
• Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre and Central Coast Family Law
• Enough is Enough Anti Violence Movement Inc and Macedone Legal
• Hawkesbury Nepean Community Legal Centre and Clayton Utz
• National Children's and Youth Law Centre and Mallesons Stephen Jaques
• St John's Anglican Church Legal Centre and Middletons
• Viscopy and Allens Arthur Robinson
• Womens Legal Service, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, NSW Bar Association, and Blake Dawson, Clayton Utz. Freehills