Community Involvement

Marrawah Law’s staff are members of local boards and management committees including Queensland Government’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business and Innovation Reference Group (BIRG); Indigenous Lawyers Association Queensland, Cairns Region Indigenous Business Network, South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce; North Queensland Law Association; Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network, Noongar Chamber of Commerce and the Queensland Law Societies’ Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group.

We also provide financial sponsorship for various entities/events including:

▪ National Native Title Conference Sponsor

▪ Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining Exploration and Energy Conference Sponsor

▪ Royal Flying Doctors Service

▪ National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) events in our region.

Supporting the Indigenous business sector

Marrawah Law is committed to building a strong Indigenous business sector, fully supporting Indigenous small businesses and organisations across our supply chains. We have an active Indigenous supply and engagement commitment and wherever possible aim to contract the services of suitably qualified and capable Indigenous small businesses and contractors – including referring them to others in our networks.

Marrawah Law currently utilises the services of Indigenous sub-contractors and suppliers for marketing, information technology, catering, design, and professional services including grant writing.

We regularly speak about Indigenous procurement with the wider business community through networking events, articles and national radio segments. We know procurement from Indigenous business is not only a practical way for many people to actively work towards reconciliation, but it represents a hand up not a hand out.

These small actions of reconciliation have the potential to not just change individual lives but substantially alter the future of Indigenous people.

Employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Our firm currently has over 70% Indigenous employment across our offices and we are committed to increasing the participation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in our workforce.

Our core Marrawah Law team consists of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with traditional, historical and lived connections across Queensland. These include the Bundjalung people of southern Queensland and northern NSW; Darnley, Erub, Mabuiag and Badu Islands in the Torres Strait, Wuthati from Cape York Peninsular (Lockhart River), Gangalidda in the Gulf, Cairns region and South East Queensland.

We are also committed to growing and nurturing the next generation of Indigenous legal practitioners through supporting staff members to gain their qualifications and through mentoring and assisting others to succeed.

Our efforts in training and development are not restricted to our own staff as senior staff members including Principal Solicitor, Leah Cameron, mentor a number of Indigenous lawyers in other firms. Leah also mentors and supports emerging Indigenous businesses having recently been heavily involved in the Minderoo Foundation National Dream Summit with Indigenous business start-ups held in Sydney in September 2019.

Probono Program

Marrawah Law are very much a part of, and support, our local community both with our time and through financial contributions. Members of our firm contribute a significant amount of time to pro bono work and the firm is a signatory to the National Pro Bono Target. Our solicitors also appear weekly on the National Indigenous Radio Service’s Talk Black Program (facilitated locally through Bumma Bippera Media 98.7FM) talking on the full range of topical legal issues. In addition, we conduct regular information sessions and pro bono work throughout the region for those who cannot access traditional legal aid services.

We also currently provide pro bono training and support services within our areas of expertise to a range of organisations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations, land holding entities, and community members.

Leah Cameron
Founder & Principal Solicitor

Oliver Gilkerson
Consultant

Cassie Lang
Senior Solicitor

Deanna Cartledge
Senior Solicitor

Mikaela French
Paralegal

Nareeta Davis
Paralegal