In FY24, we provided 14 secondments to community legal centres and human rights organisations, providing a rich learning opportunity for our lawyers and paralegals, and adding capacity to our partner organisations.
Secondments
Secondment Hours
Australian Human Rights Commission
Zemyna worked with Commissioner Finlay during their secondment at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), supporting the Commission’s work into disinformation and misinformation.
Zemyna Kuliukas, Associate
“I had a fantastic experience on my part-time secondment with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Working under the Human Rights Commissioner, I was tasked with preparing a research memorandum exploring the highly topical area of misinformation and disinformation. Working over 3 months, I considered the various international approaches to tackling misinformation, extracted experts’ criticism of these approaches and analysed these against the Commonwealth’s proposed misinformation and disinformation laws.
I found this work to be fascinating, involved overlapping issues such as freedom of speech, election interference and the verifiability of truth. It was a pleasure working with the passionate and kind team at the AHRC, who encouraged and supported me throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend undertaking a secondment with the AHRC!"
Basic Rights Queensland
Amy completed a secondment at Basic Rights Queensland (BRQ), researching the potential impact of AI on women’s work.
Amy Lafferty, Associate
“I am very grateful to the WK pro bono team (and Chris!) for organising such a great secondment, which allowed me to deepen my research skills in an area that I think will only prove more important as time goes on and will inform future law reform advocacy for the organisation.
BRQ were an incredible organisation to be seconded to, and I could not have asked for a more supportive environment to develop both my knowledge and skillset.”
The Refugee Advice and Casework Service
During her time on secondment with the Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS), Jessica provided assistance to people wishing to reunite with family.
Jessica La, Senior Associate
"My secondment at RACS in the family reunion team has been incredibly rewarding and insightful. It has expended my understanding of immigration law. It’s both fulfilling to be able to help clients start the process of reuniting with their families after so many years but also frustrating to see how the law does not account for nuances which prevent some families from reuniting. Overall, it’s refreshing to be able to engage in work that’s different from my everyday practice. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with such a compassionate team and to be able to contribute to a cause which is meaningful to me!"
Seniors Rights Service
Melanie worked with Seniors Rights Service NSW’s First Nations lawyers to support their First Nations clients at an outreach clinic in the community.
Melanie Najdovski, Paralegal
“The secondment has been absolutely fantastic! It’s so eye opening actively speaking with the community and meeting new people. Brian has also been a great guide throughout the process and the team is very kind. I think one thing that's really stuck out to me is how kind the community is too – even though we’re helping with legal points, they are very kind and it’s really beautiful to see resilience and generosity during tough times – I’m thankful to be doing it.
It just makes you feel so connected with he community and it’s different to what we do at WK, so fulfilling indeed.”
Wotton Kearney acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
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