THE JURIST Issue 4 2016
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Contents President’s welcome by Alex Douvartzidis The practitioner and the pram by Camille McDonald Wellbeing guide Pages 12-19 O’Connnor for President
How to have better days by Sarah Flynn
4 7 9 11 12 20 21 18 25 27
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Effectively dealing with depression by Sarah Flynn How Crossfit can help you get through law school by Giulia Prosperi-Porta Stanley Bruce’s battle with the trade unions by Stewart Chilcott Addicted to the internet by Audrey Lian FLSA careers evening
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President’s welcome By Alexandra Douvartzidis WELCOME to the final edition of The Jurist for 2016, and my final ‘welcome’ as president. It has been a tremendous year, and I am personally extremely grateful to have been a part of such an amazing and inspiring committee. I encourage all students to seriously consider joining the FLSA committee at some stage during their studies. Although challenging, it has undoubtedly been one of the most rewarding experiences I have undertaken so far. I am incredibly proud of the work achieved by the 2016 committee, and have been happy to see so many students participate in our events throughout the year. The Flinders community itself, including both the students and staff, are exceptionally supportive and kind. I am proud to call myself a Flinders student. I wish all the best to the 2017 committee, and cannot wait to see how they build upon the great work
that the 2016 committee has completed. For this final edition, we have chosen to focus on ‘wellbeing’ to coincide with our Wellbeing Week. I think I speak for all students when I say that we have all felt at some stage that university has been a gruelling experience. In attempts to juggle study, work and a social life, many of us have felt the weight that law school can bring. During these times, it is important to remember that those who surround us are here for support. If your friend or family member needed your support, would you be there for them? Of course – so in turn, try to not feel that your friends and family members cannot be approached. They are your friends and family, and they love you. Sometimes it may be difficult to really speak up, and that’s okay. In those times when you’re not prepared to speak to those close to you, it is important to consider what other options are available for you. The Jurist
We have included a Wellbeing Guide in this edition of The Jurist, which includes contact information for all different types of services available in South Australia. Reach out, because there is help. My final pieces of advice: Firstly, remember to take time out for yourself. You’ve only got one mind and body, so you need to look after it. Secondly, if you got a bad grade this semester, or maybe you didn’t get that internship you were desperate for, although undeniably disappointing, just try and remember that eventually these things will become irrelevant in the scheme of life, and they definitely do not define who you are as a person, or what you can truly achieve in life. We’re all fighting to reach our goals, and sometimes we forget how amazing that is in itself. Be proud of what you have achieved so far, and where you are headed in life. Much love, Douvo.
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Editorial By Giulia Prosperi-Porta Editor-in-Chief THE end of the academic year is nigh. Being that time of year where, for many students, the motivation is starting to dwindle, the brain is dying and the burn out is starting to set in, this ‘Wellbeing’ edition of The Jurist could not come at a better time. Coinciding with Flinders Law Students’ Association’s Wellbeing Week, this special edition of The Jurist features a Wellbeing Guide containing information about support services Flinders University offers for students, as well as contact details for organisations that can assist with issues such as alcohol abuse and eating disorders. I recently had a conversation with a prominent individual about the increasing focus on wellbeing for law students and legal professionals. This person was quite dismissive and questioned the need to even highlight this issue. He basically likened it to rich, privileged law students ‘having a whinge’, and believed we should all ‘just get on with it’. This is exactly why events such as Wellbeing Week, and our Wellbeing issue of The Jurist are so important; to raise awareness that when someone is experiencing mental health issues ‘just getting on with it’, is not easy. The statistics speak for themselves: One in three law students/legal professionals will experience mental ill-
It’s all about perspective. Image courtesy Law School Memes.
ness in their lifetime. Yes, we all choose to study law, and along with that comes the huge workload. But with huge workloads comes stress and pressure. And stress and pressure can lead to decreased mental health and wellbeing. But many of us aren’t exactly going to quit law because of the workload and stress, because we find it interesting, challenging and we are passionate about the law. So, we must remember to take care of our health and wellbeing, so we can continue to study what we enjoy and work towards our goals. Student Sarah Flynn offers her tips on effectively dealing with depression (page 7) and ‘how to have better days’ (page 28), The Jurist
while Jasmine Werneburg provides some unique advice about surviving law school on page 8. We all know exercise can help improve mental and physical health and wellbeing. Law student Tom McCourt provides an insight imto how the discipline of Crossfit specifically can help you push through law school in my article on page 11. I can personally vouch for everything Tom says as it is also my go-to stress buster! In the simple yet poweful words of Winston Churchill: “Never, never, never give up.” Good luck with your studies for the rest of the year and enjoy a well-deserved, relaxing break.
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“China!”
A bustling nightlife: Exploring the busy streets of China during free time.
By Jimmy Coffey Publications Editor EVER since I was a kid I’ve wanted to visit China. This is because my dad, a veterinarian, spent a month in the country’s far north, near the Mongolian border. He was working with local farmers who were looking to the West for ways to optimize the breeding practices of their livestock to increase their productivity. His
work was a small part of an enormous modernization project, unprecedented in scope and scale. It has transformed China into an economic superpower that will be a central player in shaping the world for the foreseeable future. As I’ve watched and read of China’s ascent and its growing influence in our region, I only became more curious and eager to see it for myself. Last year an opportunity presentThe Jurist
ed itself to do just that; I took it without a second thought. In the two-week intensive course, we were introduced to the Chinese legal system and culture. In our free time, we were free to explore the city of Shanghai and see all sorts of awesome sights. Sadly, the China intensive will not be taking place in 2017, but be sure to keep an eye out for electives that interest you.
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Effectively dealing with depression By Sarah Flynn DEPRESSION is like being in an ever-present fog. No one else around you seems to see the fog, but you take it with you wherever you go. You can’t think straight or see straight. It is no way to live. Here are some ideas on how to get your life back on track.
Get the help you need, not the help you want For the longest time I did not want to go on medication. I thought I had no ‘real’ reason to be depressed, and I simply needed to snap out of it. However, months soon turned into years. I became selfish and cruel to my family, my then partner, and my friends. It got to a point where I no longer had the luxury of denial. I didn’t see the point in life. I finally forced myself to go to my doctor. I discussed my specific fears regarding depression medication, and my doctor was able to prescribe me something that was suited for me. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner. After a few months of being on the medication, I felt happy and at peace with myself – a feeling I had not felt in three years.
Perspective Perspective is everything. Remembering that your life is more than this moment helps immensely. Life has ups and downs, parts where you do not have control and are unsure of the feature, but they are not everything and forever. A past colleague of mine, who took the time to notice something was not quite right, recommended me a Doctor Seuss book. Here is the YouTube version of the book, a great listen for anyone lacking perspective: www.youtube. com/watch?v=oxdV0Fdtx7I
Routine I was always raised to believe that a busy girl was a happy girl, and I never really knew why being busy was a good thing until my depression hit. An idle mind is fuel to the fire that is depression. I am not saying you have to have a hectic schedule for every hour of the day, but routine is key. Plan your time carefully to ensure you can meet your commitments, and have enough scheduled down time to relax. When you know what is around every corner, this helps to negate anxiety. It also gives you a reason to The Jurist
get up in the morning.
Diet When your body feels trash, so does your mind. When I stepped up for the animals and the planet by going vegan, I unintentionally stepped out for myself too. Cutting out meat, dairy, and eggs has been great for my health. As long as I consume a plant based diet, I rarely get sick. Not stressing about how physically terrible you feel does wonders for your mental health.
Support system Having a support system is vital. By this I do not simply mean medical professionals, but also trusted family and friends. I once had a tutor who told me that her dogs were her support system. When this tutor was at the peak of her depression, taking care of her dogs was the only reason she had for getting up in the morning and continuing to exist.
To read more of Sarah’s writing visit her blog: www.reasonablyrelevant. wordpress.com
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Tips for surviving law school By Jasmine Werneburg AT law school, and uni in general, (or anywhere really) you have to deal with a wide range of difficulties. People, getting sick, work/ life overload or all of them at once. It makes things tricky. Like extremely tricky. Almost enough to make you feel like it’s time to give up. Sound familiar? I’m really good at loading myself up with more than what I think I can actually achieve. It’s been something I’ve done since grade four. Somehow I manage to get them done decently and on time. At the moment, I’m sick and have too many assignments than is healthy. Sometimes I wonder if this is really the way that I want to spend the next four years, but a little voice inside me keeps telling me that it will all be worth it in the end. Everyone seems to say: “Keep up rather than catch up”, but that always seems to be something that they wish they had done, as opposed to something that they were actually able to achieve. I guess six years at uni will enable me to get really good at being able to ‘uni good’. Here are my suggestions: 1. You have lots of assign-
ments to do. Use a monthly/ weekly calendar to write in the impending assignments that may cause you pain and prioritise them by due date. 2. If there are some that you’re not going to be able to get done, ask for an extension. Your sanity is so much more important. I personally don’t like asking for extensions because I feel like the extra week will make that assignment coincide with another future assignment which will put me in the same place as before the extension. However it is better than not getting marks for an assignment because you decided that another assignment was more important. 3. Reward yourself for making time to smash out those assignments that you forgot about. I feel like an assignment machine at the moment. I have three assignments due this week. Two little ones and huge, big, gigantic one. I have substantially finished the little ones and made extra time to work on the huge big difficult one. So on my way to uni (on a Sunday) to avoid distractions I bought myself a pair of pretty earrings. 4. Dress up. Sounds odd? Yeah I know. You could The Jurist
spend that time dressing up working on the assignment, but you know when you’re in bed, in your jim-jams and procrastinating like crazy? Yeah. not productive. Dress up. Feel good about you and then you’ll feel more confident about tackling your assignment. You’re also more likely to be more productive. Crazy right?! 5. Just do it. Make getting to the finish line your priority. Everything else can wait (except eating and sleeping - you wont do your best without those two) 6. Figure out your purpose/ reward for getting an assignment done. It doesn’t have to be super deep. Mine is quite superficial. I bought a shoe cabinet for my shoe collection and I would love to have a spare day to spend with my significant other so that we can put it together. I’ve been sick and took two days off of teaching, which means somewhere eventually before the end of the term I’m going to have to make them up (bye bye spare time) but it’s definitely better then making them sick because sick = no practice! 7. Look after yourself. Without you there is no reason to do assignments.
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The practitioner and the pram
By Camille McDonald Associate at Andersons Solicitors AS a female practitioner, a mother and a committee member of the Womens’ Lawyers Association of South Australia (WLASA), the issue of parental leave is something that is not only topical to me, but also personal. Throughout my years of practice I have had many female practitioners approach me confidentially, voicing their concerns about practicing law and starting a family. Some fear that becoming a mother will alter their professional identity in the eyes of their colleagues. Others fear they will not have a job to come back to or that if they take the full 12 month period entitled to them at law then they have compromised their clout in the field. Admittedly, my own concerns about parental leave stemmed from the time I was a law student. Although I didn’t feel ready to start a family at that time, I was concerned about what impact having children would have on my future career and if the legal profession was in fact “family friendly”. Through my own experience
I have seen various law firms in Adelaide both supportive and unsupportive of female practitioners who take parental leave. I am currently employed by a law firm who supported me greatly through my parental leave with my second daughter. I was afforded flexible return to work options and my identity as a mother, as well as a practitioner, was embraced by the firm at large. I am aware, however, that there are still many law firms and employers who do not support a work life balance or support their female employees who require parental leave. Shame on them; in this day and age such archaic practices will only serve to disrepute their business, attract a high turnover of staff and compromise their ability to be able to draw fresh, brilliant and eager female practitioners into their fold. Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) all employees in Australia (whether male or female) are entitled to parental leave and returning to work after parental leave. Such rights in Australia include: • The minimum entitlement for unpaid parental leave for all employee’s in Australia is 12 months (this does not mean that the parent on leave has to take the full 12 months leave, such timeframes can be negotiated with the employer); • During the first 12 months, an employee who has not elected to take the full 12 months parental leave may extend their leave once without the approval of the employer. The employee must provide
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four weeks written notice and specify the return to work date which cannot be more than 12 months from the date the employee commenced parental leave; • An employee who has been on parental leave is entitled to come back to the job they had before they went on leave; • If a female employee reduced her hours before she went on parental leave due to her pregnancy, she is entitled to return to her original role; • If someone else takes over the employee’s job while they are on leave this does not mean that the job does not exist anymore. Employers have the obligation to tell employees who are doing someone else’s job that they are not in that job permanently. As a committee member of the WLASA, it is an aim of our organisation to work toward eradicating any stigma or unfair treatment of female practitioners experiencing parental leave. We also seek to support female practitioners who have endured unsavoury parental leave experiences. Importantly, female practitioners should not feel indebted to their employer if they have experienced a positive parental leave experience. Parental leave is a legal right; those rights must be upheld without question. While largely the law firms in Adelaide appear to be moving in the right direction in this regard, there is still progress to make and stifled opinions to be corrected. Accordingly, our work at the WLASA continues to be imperative.
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Feeding the country’s hungry By Audrey Lian MANY people in this country are currently doing it tough. You just have to open a newspaper to witness tough times. According to the 2006 Australian bureau of statistics census, 104,600 people in Australia are homeless. Based on the poverty line of 50% of the average disposable income, poverty is the reality for 2 million too many Australians. We are all part of a country we have nicknamed the ‘lucky country’. A nickname so appropriate and deserved, that it merits a Wikipedia page of its own detailing why. We are abundant in natural resources, have beautiful weather and are distanced from many of the world’s problems. Despite all these good things our country boasts, there is still a community need to reduce hunger. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call Australia the ‘lucky for some, but not all’ country. The thing is, we are blessed with so much, but all wish for more for ourselves. I know I am guilty of saying, “If only I had more money”, “If only I could take a holiday on a whim”, or “If only I could have courtside tickets to the Australian Open Tennis Finals”. It seems almost insensitive to wish for these things when others are struggling constantly for necessities such as food. Instead of “If only this, If only that,” what if we said something more substantial and worthwhile- “If only everyone had access to food and never went hungry”. A couple of months ago, I saw
on television a segment on several charities such as OZ Harvest and Meals on Wheels going to small businesses and collecting donations of excess food that had not been sold that day. Businesses in the food industry often throw away foods near or just past their expiration dates. Bakeries and restaurants go one step further, and make redundant the unsold food baked that day. These foods are unnecessarily thrown away when they could have been rescued by charities and turned into meals for the vulnerable. OZ Harvest delivers these meals directly to those in need or charities who will then distribute them appropriately. The act of donating day old food may not seem like much, but it truly makes a huge difference. The charities that receive food donations from businesses can then redirect their funding into other areas of need and make the most of it, instead of needing to spend a large portion of it on something there already is an abundance of- food. Waste has the ability to become a resource. The government should implement a policy or legislation that would encourage businesses to support charity and the vulnerable. The vulnerable in our community are the people who need the most support. The reality is, that many Australians are or will experience some sort of hardship in their lives. These people are part of our community, and are not just numbers and statistics. For them, food donations are a blessing in their lives financially and nutritionally. Young people can better concentrate in school, struggling families know they always have something to put on the table, and
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the elderly have a friendly face to talk to and provide them with food and peace of mind. Recipients of these meals have one less stress to worry about. Currently, the majority of food donations come from those who are struggling themselves, small local businesses. This does not seem right, and for good reason. Why should the sole responsibility of donating food fall on the shoulders of small businesses? Why are companies like major supermarkets not donating their unwanted foods, when they have the biggest capacity to give back and benefit our community? The supermarket giants are leaving for landfill large quantities of food. This is not only a huge waste but also bad for our environment. Oz Harvest’s website states that for every kilogram of food collected, 2kg of green house gasses are prevented and 143L of water is saved. Food donation is an idea that not only helps others, but the environment too. Presently, need far outweighs the donations, but this would no longer be the case if an initiative like this was widely implemented. Many people would benefit from this immensely. The government should put pressure on the supermarket giants to turn their trash into treasure and do something with their excess food. Hunger and poverty is something not often in our attention or daily thoughts, but it is an underlying social issue that we need to address. Encouraging businesses to donate excess food and support businesses that do is something we can all take part in to address the need. It is a practical and simple solution to a problem we should not even be having in Australia.
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Brains and brawn: How Crossfit can help you get through law school By Giulia Prosperi-Porta Editor-in-Chief LAW student Tom McCourt says his drive, focus and determination have skyrocketed since he started participating in Crossfit. The strength and conditioning program has helped him develop mental grit and resilience, which transfers into his studies and everyday life. “It is about determination and pushing through that little bit harder, especially in a high intensity workout environment, you need to have that mental ability to push through,” Tom said (pictured above, right). Crossfit involves constantly varied movements performed at high intensity. It includes elements of gymnastics, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and cardiovascular exercises such as running and rowing. Contrary to popular belief that you must be fit to take part in Crossfit, Crossfit Flinders University head coach Shane Boal (pictured above, left) said anyone could participate. “It’s not as hardcore as everyone thinks, it’s suitable for anyone,” Shane said. “We try to make sure people don’t get injured and participants work within their boundaries.” Participants can scale movements to suit their level. When Tom started Crossfit his
goals included to increase his cardiovascular fitness and gain muscle. “I’ve achieved that, and in a lot quicker timeframe than I thought possible,” Tom said. Crossfit Flinders Uni is conveniently located in the Allan Mitchell Building on Registry Road . Tom usually starts or ends his day with Crossfit. “Having exercise before study or even at the end of the day after study makes you so much more focussed and attentive,” Tom said. “You’re fresh, energised, you can pop up to the library and start work on that assignment rather than stay home where you’ll potter around, and find every distraction in the world.” The lessons Tom has learned through Crossfit has helped him get through law school. “At Crossfit I’m not going to look on the board (where the workout is displayed) and see how much I’ve got left, I’m just going to keep on going until I The Jurist
get to the end.” “It transfers through to studies in things like with dealing with pressure - you might have four assignments due in a week, but it’s just a matter of getting it done.” “Rather than freak out, it enables me to just think ‘okay this is the way it is, I’m just going to get in there, focus on one thing at a time and get through it.” Tom suggested students made time to exercise because the benefits were worth it. “I know we’re all busy, but it’s one hour a day, and you don’t have to do it every day,” he said. “Your ability to focus will increase tenfold. Your mental wellbeing, productivity and drive will improve. In the middle of Swot Vac I’ll make sure I make time to go in there because you need to take time out from study. No one can study consistently for 14 – 15 hours straight, it’s not productive.”
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Wellbeing guide
You might not know it, but Flinders provides a range of services for students who need support. Health, counselling, and disability services are all readily accessible at university. For those who would prefer to seek support outside of uni, there is an infinite list of places who are here to help. It is of paramount importance that you know that help is always around the corner.
Flinders also provides a free and confidential counselling service which is available to all undergraduate and postgraduate students. The service is open Monday to Friday, from 8:45am to 5:00pm. The counsellors have qualifications in psychology and social work and have experience in a number of areas, including mental health, education, cross cultural counselling, disability, sexual diversity, drugs and alcohol, trauma, sexual assault, and family and relationship issues. Students can attend counselling for a range of reasons, whether they are academic concerns or personal matters. Call: 8201 2118 Book online: http://www.flinders.edy.au/currentstudents/healthandcounselling/book-online/
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Available to all currently enrolled students and staff, with all consultations strictly confidential, Flinders offers its very own health service. The Medical Centre provides both emergency and routine medical care, including: Best of all, consultations are bulk-billed! Call: 8201 2118 Book online: http://www.flinders.edy. au/currentstudents/healthandcoun selling/book-online/
Wellbeing guide There is a certain stigma around ‘disability’. However, this refers to any impairment, learning difficulty, medical condition, or disability that inhibits a student’s access to education. Flinders offers a free and confidential service for enrolled students who have a disability. Disability Advisors can help coordinate services which allow students with disabilities to access study, provide advocacy on behalf of individuals or on issues which affect a number of students. If you need a Disability Action Plan, this is also the place to contact! To get in touch with a Disability Advisor and discuss your options: Call: 8201 2118 Email: disability@flinders.edu.au
Unsurprisingly, substance abuse is a big issue within the legal profession, and also affects those studying law. Obviously in Australia and among university students there is a prominent drinking culture. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a glass of wine or a nice beer after a long day? But there are times when it can get out of hand. If you are struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, there is help available. Flinders University provides a free counselling service where you can discuss a range of issues, including those that are drug and alcohol related. However, if you would prefer to seek help outside of university there are still a number of accessible services available. You can refer to our contact guide which lists a number of places where you can seek help.
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Wellbeing guide
Sadly, domestic violence is still a prominent issue. It affects people of all genders and ages, and can take many forms. Domestic violence can be both physical and emotional abuse. Unfortunately, most instances of domestic violence go unreported. If you or someone you know is being affected by domestic violence, it is essential to know that there a number of services available for you to get help. Whether you need to report and incident or simply want someone to talk to, there are plenty of options in terms of seeking help to choose from. You can call the university counselling service: 8201 2118 Alternatively, you can call Crisis Care for help and emergency accommodation: 131 611
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. You will feel the benefits of quitting straight away as your body repairs itself. If you quit: • Within a month your blood pressure returns to its normal level and your immune system begins to show signs of recovery. • After twelve months your increased risk of dying from heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker. • After ten years of stopping your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a continuing smoker and continues to decline (provided the disease is not already present). • After fifteen years your risk of heart attack and stroke is almost the same as that of a person who has never smoked. Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding things a person can do. Speak to a counsellor or call Quitline today!
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Contact guide GENERAL ISSUES Centrelink: Australia’s one-stop shop for benefits and other commonwealth services. List of Contact Details available at: https://www.humanservices.gov.au Healthy SA (SA Dept of Health): A comprehensive site including information on Aboriginal Health, babies and children, disability, environmental health, multicultural health, gay and lesbian health and youth health and much more. Contact Details: Central office Telephone: (08) 8226 6000 Reach Out: A web-based service designed for young people to help themselves through tough times. Information on mental health, drugs and alcohol, sexuality, uni, work and relationships. Contact Details: http://au.reachout.com/contact-us Women’s Information Service: Free and confidential information, support and referral services for women. Contact Issues: Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm Phone: +61 8 8303 0590 or 1800 188 158 SMS: 0401 989 860 Shop Front (Open to visits) Mensline: Support, information and referral for men who are dealing with relationships, separation, family break-up, step-parenting and similar concerns. Contact Details: 1300 78 99 78 contactable: 24/7
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Contact guide
Nutrition Australia: A community based organisation which provides information and advice on nutrition. Good FAQ’s page. Contact Details: 03 8341 5800 DRUGS AND ALCOHOL Drug Arm : A useful website with information and services and support available Contact Details: 82964777 Australian Drug Foundation: An excellent site on alcohol and other drugs. Contact Details: Emails: adf@adf.org.au Phone: 03 9611 6100 Druginfo Line 1300 889 817 Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia: Information about alcohol and other drugs and support services available. Contact Details: 1300 13 1340 (8:30 am – 10 pm everyday) MENTAL HEALTH Mental Illness Followship South Australia (MIFSA) : A support service available in South Australia Contact Details: mifsa@mifsa.ord Phone: 1800 985 944
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Contact guide
MENTAL HEALTH Australian Transcultural Mental Health Network: A network linking transcultural services and other relevant bodies to improve the quality and accessibility of services available to Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Plenty of useful information, available in a number of languages. Contact Details: Email: info@mhaustralia.org Phone: (02) 6285 3100 Beyond Blue: Information about depression and available treatments. Contact: 1300 22 4636 Mental Health Services: Provides information about mental health issues and various mental health and crisis services. Website Details: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Mental+Health+and+Wel lbeing-1 SANE: This excellent web site is a must to visit for those wanting information on any mental health issue. It also has an exhaustive web site listing. It also provides a free Helpline Online service. Contact Details: 1800 18 7263 Lifeline: Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Contact: 24 hour 7 day a week service 13 11 14
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Contact guide
RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT Yarrow Place – Rape and Sexual Assault Service : Information regarding rape and sexual assault, supports and services available. Contact Details Phone during office hours: (08) 8226 8777 After hours: (08) 8226 8787 Toll-free in SA: 1800 817 421 SEXUAL HEALTH/SEXUALITY ShineSA: Information on sexual health issues including sexually transmitted infections, contraception, resources and services. Many of their pamphlets are available in a range of languages. Contact Details: 1300 794 584 Bfriend : A support program for newly identifying same sex attracted people. The site also has information about services and resources available to people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and transsexuals. It includes some great stories about personal experiences. Contact: 8202 5805 or 8202 5192. Sexual identities : Flinders University's own website supporting sexual diversity on campus. Website: http://www.flinders.edu.au/equal-opportunity/sexual_and-genderdiversity/educational_resources.cfm
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Contact guide
LEARNING DISABILTIES Opening All Options : Fantastic website specifically aimed at tertiary study. Developed by the University of Tasmania. Contact: Phone: (03) 6324 3615 Email: ADCET.Admin@utas.edu.au SPELD SA: Information, referral and software advice for people with a learning disability. Contact Details: 298 Portrush Road, Kensington, Email: info@speld-sa.org.au Telephone: 08 8431 1655 I am dyslexic: 14 y.o. dyslexic’s site – has some great stories and tips. Website: http://www.iamdyslexic.com
EATING DISORDERS Eating Disorder Association SA : Information, referral and support, plus links to other good sites. Contact: Sewell House 296 Payneham Road Payneham, SA 5070 thepanicroomsa@gmail.com Tel: 0410 521 633
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The forgotten story of Stanley Melbourne Bruce’s battle with the trade unions By Stewart Chilcott IN December 2015, the Royal Com-
mission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption ended their hearings. The Commission and subsequent final report blew the lid on corruption within trade unions, including general dishonesty, harassment and price fixing. The commission is not the first time Australian politics and the trade unions have come to blows. When, in 1938, the waterside unions refused to export iron to Japan in protest of their invasion of Manchuria (China), future Prime Minister Robert Menzies used the Transport Workers Act 1929 to force them to load iron, earning him the nickname: ‘pig iron Bob.’ However, one of the forgotten clashes between an Australian Prime Minister and the trade unions was the battle between Stanley Melbourne Bruce and the trade unions of his day.
Bruce’s battles Stanley Melbourne Bruce’s (18831967) Prime Ministership, beginning in 1923 and ending in 1929, was defined by his battle with the trade unions over industrial relations. A decorated veteran of Gallipoli, Bruce started his Prime Ministership with a bipartisan attitude towards industrial relations. He cared little for either employer or employee complaints and deplored industrial unrest. He referred to the trade unions as ‘extremists’ who held Australia back from making important progress and described them as “wreckers who would plunge us into the chaos and misery of a class war”. Bruce challenged Australian workers to show they could be treated fairly while allowing the economy
to grow and be competitive. Bruce challenged Australians to support a system in which workers and employers resolved their issues privately.
Fighting on Fate, however, had other ideas. Australia relied on shipping for trade and his hand was finally forced by the Seamen Union’s strike of 1925. In response, the government quickly passed the Navigation Act and the Immigration Act. The Navigation Act allowed British ships to operate in Australian waters without working under Australian awards. The Immigration Act, meanwhile, gave the Commonwealth the power to deport foreigners who threatened industry within Australia. As a result, many key, foreign-born union leaders and strike inciters were deported. In protest New South Wales Premier Jack Lang (18761975), an infamous Labor nutcase, refused to order New South Wales state police to issue summons for two union officials he was protecting. Bruce responded by re-establishing a Commonwealth police force through the Peace Officers Act and took the choice out of Lang’s hands.
The history of IR Industrial relations formed the basis of Australia’s first red scare election in 1925. However, problems with industrial relations continued to rise. In 1928, the Bruce Government’s reviewed the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act and made important changes. One of these changes was the requirement of industrial courts not only to consider the welfare of the worker, but also the wider economic effects of their decisions (a fair demand, one would
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think). As a result, economic conditions worsened for waterside workers and the Waterfront Workers Federation responded with industrial action which broke out into full blown riots in Melbourne leading to the death of one person. Bruce counterattacked with the Transport Workers Act requiring employees to carry Federal licenses, known as ‘dog collars’, to work on the dock. This effectively gave the Commonwealth the power to choose who worked on the docks. Bruce’s battle with organised labour saw his popularity among the electorate decline. At the 1928 election, his Government was returned with a majority of only nine.
FInally defeated The Maritime Industries Bill 1929 was the final nail in the coffin. The bill gave the states an ultimatum: hand over powers of industrial relations to the Commonwealth or the Commonwealth would remove itself entirely from industrial relations altogether and dismantle federal arbitration. The bill caused outrage on both sides of parliament and many members of Bruce’s own backbench, including Billy Hughes (1862-1952), to cross the floor. Now leading a minority government, Bruce approached Governor General, Lord Stonehaven with a request to dissolve the House of Representatives and call an election. Bruce’s Government was defeated at the polls and Bruce became the first Prime Minister to lose his seat. Labor leader James Scullin (18761953) became Australia’s ninth Prime Minister on October 22nd, 1929. A week into his Prime Ministership Wall Street crashed sparking the Great Depression.
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O’Connor for president DISTINGUISHED South Australian barrister Claire O’Connor SC (pictured, right) could possibly become the fourth female president of the Law Society of South Australia. Claire is standing for the 2017 presidency against Tim Mellor, who is a partner at Mellor Olsson Lawyers. There have only been three women presidents of the Law Society SA in its history. The Womens’ Lawyers Association of SA (WLASA) says Claire O’Connor SC, is not only a woman of merit, but also a woman who has supported other women in and beyond the profession. Claire has been committed to changing the profession to achieve greater equity for those working in the law from diverse backgrounds. Claire helped set up the Women’s Legal Service in SA and was on the management committee for almost a decade. Claire is a foundation member of Women for Women on Nauru. She was also involved in setting up the Women at the Bar committee for women barristers. “It is my view that the Society, as representing all members, is best served by a president who has experience in more than one facet of practice and who has shown a commitment to change and advocacy within the profession,” Claire said in her nomination statement. “I bring to the role a proven track record of being able to
achieve change where I have seen a need, and to be able to listen to and understand the problems experienced by individual members of the profession who approach me as a mentor, and as a leader in various roles I have undertaken over the years.” Claire’s nomination statement states she was employed by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) for 15 years as an in house counsel until 2005. During this time she was involved in Supreme Court and District Court jury trials and criminal appeals for serious criminal charges including murder, attempt murder and sexual assaults. Claire also worked on Federal Court and High Court refugee cases including a constitutional challenge to indefinite detention (Al Kateb) and personal injuries suits for harm caused in detention. While at the LSC she took leave to act for women appearing before the Royal Commission into the Hindmarsh Island Bridge. She also worked at the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, including the Royal Commission into Aboriginal The Jurist
Deaths in Custody. Claire went to the independent bar in 2005, initially at Anthony Mason Chambers. Since 2015 she has been at Villeneuve Smith Chambers. She has worked as counsel in a range of areas while at the bar from civil matters including acting in Trevorrow, (the only successful stolen generation case in Australia to date), false imprisonment matters (including acting for Cornelia Rau over her unlawful detention in Baxter), to personal injuries arising from harm done to children in state care. In her nomination statement Claire said some of the issues facing the profession she viewed as important for the next decade included: • The monitoring of the large numbers of graduates in law in SA. • Liaising with Federal and State governments in relation to legislative and regulatory changes proposed that will have an impact on the practice of law. • Advocating for greater transparency and member input in Government and Court decisions over appointments to the bench, to boards and to the appointment of Senior Counsel • Advocating for legal aid and poverty law issues (including cuts to LSC and the funding to Justicenet). • Costs of access to justice. Voting in the Law Society SA elections close on October 14.
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Addicted to the internet By Audrey Lian Publications Editor IT recently dawned on me how much my peers and I love the internet. What is not to love? It provides you with hours of fun, information at your fingertips, social networking sites, online shopping, food delivery services, games, and Harambe memes. Like many others my age, I can barely remember a time before the internet. We have been raised on the wondrous thing that is the internet. Unlike our parents before us, no longer do we need to go to the library to finish our homework. Now we can search what we need and when we need it, on the computer with a couple of clicks. I can find out anything I have ever wanted to know. Type in the search bar: ‘Why do I have a sore throat?’, and Dr Google is armed with 31,800,000 results in .22 seconds. Ask: ‘What is the meaning of life?’, and internet-enabled Siri will respond with ‘42’. For the average 20-something, a fun night out is having Netflix, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram open in their tabs. Switching from tab to tab seamlessly, elicits a sense of accomplishment. A wild night out is changing your profile picture spontaneously with the description #tbt. The internet
brings so much joy to our lives. The world is in technicolour when there are four bars of Wi-Fi signal. Watching television online is more exciting then watching it on an actual television screen. Scrolling through the news is more efficient than sitting through the whole 30 minutes of it. We can shop at whatever hour we want without even leaving the comfort of our pyjamas. Where would we all be without the internet? Would we have to wait until 6:30pm every night to find out tomorrow’s temperature forecast from the news like my grandma? That scares me. Would we actually have to ring organisations up for further information like my mum? That scares me too. I cannot imagine doing either. My mum said there was a time where spending hours on the internet a day was classified as an addiction. I can easily surpass three hours daily. Twenty The Jurist
‘internet minutes’ have passed and I look at my clock and see that it is 2am. While the internet will always have a special place in my heart, it is common knowledge that misuse or constant dependence of it will have its consequences. An unhealthy internet addiction can lead to lack of sleep, over/under eating, neglecting other tasks, poor communication skills, laziness, and a dependence on instant gratification. A couple from South Korea were so consumed with nurturing their virtual baby on a popular video game that they had neglected their real baby. The baby starved to death as her parents busily tended to their online child. The internet is a great resource but should not be abused. There is a life outside the internet. We need to realise that we control the internet, and not the other way round. My grandma turned out fine without the internet,
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Welcome to The Jurist’s Jury Duty, by Publications Editor Audrey Lian. Where she asks law students the important questions in life.
Jimmy Coffey
Alysha Foster
Regina Rajesh
1. What has been your fave law topic so far?
1. Admin Law, because I found it easy!
1. Issues in Criminal Law
1. Property, Equity and Trusts
2. One place you’d love to travel to?
2. Ireland
2. Paris, France- the city of love
2. Eurpoe for the food and the culture
3. I cannot study with music, I need silence!
3. Bollywood for intesnse study sessions. Not knowing the words and an upbeat tempo really motivates you
3. What music do you like studying to? 4. If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 5. What’s your coffee order?
3. Usually classical or rock 4. Chicken tikka masala. It’s decicious and it’s one of the few things I can cook 5. Mint Mochas 6.
6. Fave emoji?
HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE POST EXAMS?
4. Beef ravioli with Napolitana sauce and fresh parmesan
4. Pasta. I could vary the sauces right?!
5. Skinny hot chocolate with marshmallows
5. Mint Mocha from Urban Paddock or a latte from everywhere else
6.
6.
1. Cebratory Drinks won 80% of votes 2. Burgers and Dessert won 10% of votes 2. Watching Trash TV
won 10% of votes
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How to have better days By Sarah Flynn Have an outline for each day I live by this tip. When you do not have a general outline for your day, you are essentially flying blind, resulting in forgetfulness and a lack of productivity. Moreover, if you suffer from depression and/or anxiety, having a loose plan for your day is super helpful. Now, I am not saying you have to schedule absolutely everything. The outline is just a broad plan, allowing for variation and disruptions.
Do not sleep in Do not make sleeping in a habit. This will result in you being rushed when you eventually get out of bed. Rushing leaves us feeling exhausted, not to mention it leaves us with less time to do important parts of our morning routine, or we simply forget about important things. Additionally, you are way more productive when you are up at a decent time. Numerous studies support that productivity tends to be higher among morning people. I definitely agree with this, as I find I am much more likely to get in a good workout or fit in more study when I am up early.
Do not skip breakfast Experts are always telling you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day for brain function. Personally, there are two main reasons why I believe everyone should always eat breakfast. Firstly, whenever I start off the day by eating a healthy breakfast, I find that I am much more likely to make better food choices throughout the rest of the day. When I am starving by lunchtime, I go straight for the fatty junk food. Second, shit happens. Life could pull a fast one on you, making your day beyond crazy. Even if you do not have the time for a good lunch or even dinner, at least you have been able to have an initial solid meal to start your day.
Tidy your space every night before bed This is a small way to help ensure you are going to have a better tomorrow. When your space is tidy, you know where your wallet is, you don’t have to tear through a mountain of clothes to find one particular shirt, and you are not tripping over a pile of your own shoes. Mornings run a little smoother when you have got your shit together. The Jurist
Do not check your emails until after breakfast Ideally, you should not check your email until you arrive at work or university, but I understand that could be a stretch for most people. At the very least, do not check your email until after breakfast. I know a lot of people, and I use to be guilty of this too, check their email before they have even gotten out of bed in the morning. Do you really want to live so reactively? Starting your day responding to the requests of others? Have your morning the way you want it, before you allow anyone else to dictate your day.
Drink lots of water Do you visit the hydration station frequently? Water is important for physical health and also mood. When you are hydrated, you will find yourself less tired, less hungry, and altogether more cheerful. Tip, next time you feel angry or irritated, try chugging a heap of cool water, you will be pleasantly surprised by the effect this had on your mood.
Celebrate all victories I am not saying you should go to happy hour simply because you did a load of washing, but it is important to acknowledge your small achievements. Allow yourself to relish in the fact that you were able to cross off half your to do list today.
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At Cowell Clarke, we understand the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace.
_ We like to work together as a team. After all, our most important asset is our people. That is why we offer various programs to help better our staff’s mental and physical health. Level 5, 63 Pirie Street Adelaide SA 5000 Australia T: +61 8 8228 1111 F: +61 8 8228 1100 www.cowellclarke.com.au
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Tim Bost and Alex Douvartzidis with the panellists from Lipman Karas, KPMG, and Kain Lawyers.
Job ready: Flinders law students at the FLSA careers eveining.
Breakout session: A great small group opportunity to ask the panellists further questions.
FLSA Careers Evening LAST Month, Lipman Karas, KPMG, and Kain Lawyers joined with FLSA and the Flinders Careers Centre to present the Clerkship and Interview evening. It featured a panel discus-
sion where spokespeople took questions from the audience, followed by a breakup into groups where students could ask some questions one on one. Whether you are about to The Jurist
graduate or have just started your degree, events like this provide a great opportunity for law students to meet people in the industry and get a better idea of career pathways.
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The Flinders Law Students’ Association would like to extend our gratitude to our sponsors, who make it possible for us to continue to provide excellent services to our students.
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
GENERAL Allens Ashurst Baker & McKenzie Finlaysons Fisher Jeffries Johnston Winter & Slattery King & Wood Mallesons Lawskool Thomson Geer
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