A team from Swinburne University came out on top with ideas like increasing and reinvesting funding, inspiring community-driven approaches and reducing sentences. They presented a video that was judged by leading legal professionals, including his honour Justice Michael Myers from the Federal Circuit Court. 

Swinburne Law School dean Professor Mirko Bagaric said it was wonderful to see the students perform so well in the context of a “challenging problem and against high-level competition”. This sentiment was mirrored by associate professor Amanda Scardamaglia who said the law school’s point of difference is its focus on practical skills, law and technology and it is “inspiring” to see their students succeed in it. 

In commentary for Protégé, team member Rochelle Erwin said having the opportunity to compete was “incredible for reasons that go beyond expanding my mooting knowledge and bettering my experiences in law school”. 

“Whilst I am always extremely grateful to be able to work on my skills and broaden my knowledge, this competition did so much more than just that. The competition opened my eyes up to an issue so much larger than what we were taught throughout our schooling years and demonstrated how deep-rooted it is, not only in our history but in our country’s mindset,” Ms Erwin said.

Ms Erwin added that at times the experience was confronting as she realised how little she knew of Australia’s history in this space – and the true depth of the issue – but she was grateful for the opportunity to listen to the stories and hear the struggles. 

“It was truly an honour to be a part – albeit a very small part – of trying to bring a fight that they have fought for so long now to an end, to give those who have struggled a voice, to empower them to be at the forefront of change that is long overdue and to work on a future that meets the voices of the Uluru Statement from the Heart,” she said.

Fellow team member Jordan Zambelli mirrored this, adding that the experience provided him with an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the issues that have, and still do, face Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

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“What I discovered was alarming [and] without this opportunity, I would still be naive and unaware of the systemic racism that sits strongly within Australia’s legal and administrative mechanisms,” Mr Zambelli said. 

Before the competition, Lily Trinh said she, like the others, only had general knowledge of the issues facing Indigenous people across Australia but that this experience allowed her to discover there was so much that needed to be done. 

“I had the opportunity to reach out to individuals who were part of the community and was gifted a great opportunity to listen to them about the subject,” Ms Trinh said. “This issue is glaringly problematic and needs immediate attention.”

Swinburne University competed with finalists Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, University of Adelaide and University of New England across two rounds. The first allowed them to get creative with their proposals by designing a video or visual prompt, followed by its presentation in the second round that was then judged by the premier judging panel. 

The scope of what competitors were permitted to discuss was intentionally broad, according to ANU. The students were encouraged to think creatively and develop unique perspectives on the subject area to inform their suggestions. 

Team member Zach Plant said it was a privilege to work alongside his “incredibly talented team” for such an important initiative. He added that advocacy is something he finds so important for the profession and it was “a really amazing opportunity to be able to present our own ideas on an issue which is so significant”.

For Lily Ballot Jones, the competition allowed her to expand on a subject she has been passionate about since her high school days. She said she first began understanding and acting on issues on inequality during this time and, in her first year out of school, volunteered at a law firm doing pro bono work for a remote Aboriginal community and got involved in a political campaign to advocate for First Nations people. 

“Last year I also competed in Swinburne’s annual mooting competition and really enjoyed and learnt a lot from the valuable experience,” Ms Ballot Jones said. “Earlier this year I spent some months living in Switzerland where I was able to travel and broaden my understanding of the world, ultimately helping me to gain a much better perspective on global issues. 

“I look forward to future opportunities that will allow me to help Australia achieve justice for Indigenous people.”