Today, there are only two female Indigenous barristers in Queensland—an imbalance law student Alicia George is keen to redress.
Thanks to a scholarship made possible by Griffith Law School alumni Joshua Creamer and former Morningside Councillor Kara Cook, Alicia George will be able to pursue her dream of becoming a barrister and helping to create change.
She is the first recipient of a new scholarship at Griffith University that will nurture the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal eagles.
Representation is so important, and I’d love to be a part of the generation that helps the legal system become a tool of empowerment for Indigenous people.
Alicia George
Joshua and Kara established the scholarship to support female Indigenous law students and increase diversity at the Bar.
The Joshua Creamer and Kara Cook Excellence in Law Award is worth $5,000 a year and includes significant mentoring and internship opportunities.
“I’ve always had a passion for human rights and the rights of minorities,” Alicia says.
“The legal system has often been used as a tool of oppression for Indigenous people. Naturally, there’s this distrust of the legal process and system from Indigenous people and minority groups.”
“Representation is so important, and I’d love to be a part of the generation that helps the legal system become a tool of empowerment for Indigenous people.”
Alicia moved from her hometown of Rockhampton to study at Griffith and says the scholarship will help cover living expenses and provide a pathway into the legal profession.
“I was so inspired by the careers Joshua and Kara have carved out since graduating from Griffith, and I’m so grateful to them for giving back,” she says.
“This will help me pay rent, buy law textbooks and replace my laptop. The fact that it also includes mentoring and internship opportunities will be really invaluable to my future career.”
“Those circles can sometimes be hard to get into, especially if you’re not well-connected family-wise. I’m just so privileged and honoured to have access to that.”
Alicia is proud of her Torres Strait Islander and Scottish ancestry and is on track to become the first in her family to graduate from university.
“My Nan grew up on Badu Island and was one of 22 children,” she says.
“Growing up, I didn’t have a strong connection to culture because our extended family is spread out across Queensland, but I’m on that journey of trying to connect and learn more.”
“I think my family has definitely been affected by diminished opportunities. That is what inspires me to help my people.”
Scholarship donors Joshua and Kara also hail from Central Queensland. A descendant of the Waanyi and Kalkadoon people, Joshua is a high-profile barrister who specialises in human rights class actions and native title. Kara has been a Brisbane City Councillor and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, although she recently announced she was stepping aside from politics.
Joshua says the pair established the scholarship after benefiting from strong mentors and support during their time at Griffith University.
“We didn’t have lawyers or judges or barristers in the family, and both of us were the first in our families to go to university,” he says.
“For us, it was really important to have a component of the scholarship that was about providing mentorship and connecting like-minded people so that they can achieve great things in their career.”
More than $100 million of philanthropy has already been secured to create a brighter future for all.
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