When Georgia Rowles first heard about our Jacinta Dwyer Research Internship, she knew it was a special opportunity.   

As a final-year law student at Monash University, and a paralegal at a family law clinic, Georgia was already interested in the law. The chance to dive into research on family violence and Australian courts sparked her interest.   

As someone passionate about working with people to solve legal problems, Georgia knew of Women’s Legal. When a coworker told her about the Jacinta Dwyer Research Internship, it felt like a perfect fit. It blended her interests in family law and social justice with the chance for research, supported by Women’s Legal.   

Georgia is the first person to be part of our new Jacinta Dwyer Research Internship. It’s a 25-day, paid internship for final year or honours students in law, social work, community development or financial counselling. It’s allowed Georgia to complete a research project – and make industry connections.  

The internship honours the legacy of Jacinta Dwyer, a lawyer who worked at Women’s Legal. She became a magistrate in 2017, and passed away in 2017.   

Georgia has been at Women’s Legal two days per week, researching the complex and often overwhelming court system faced by victim-survivors of family violence. “A lot of the time, clients have to navigate many court systems for related issues,” she says.   

She describes the need for victims to attend different courts for family law matters. For example, there is one court for divorce and parenting cases (Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia), and another for intervention orders (Magistrates Court).  

Georgia notes how difficult it is for women experiencing family violence to go between different courts. She explains this often leads to confusion, stress, and extra legal costs for those already in vulnerable situations.  

Her research asks how to bridge the gap between these overlapping court systems, with a focus on making it simpler. An ideal solution, she says, would be a “one-stop shop” where victims can address all their legal needs in one place. But as this would be difficult to create, Georgia has been looking at other ideas – such as letting federal courts handle state matters and vice versa.  

At the heart of her work is a commitment to making the legal system more accessible and supportive for those experiencing family violence.   

Reflecting on her time at Women’s Legal, Georgia says it’s been special to work in a “supportive and empowering” environment. We’ve teamed up with local historians to document and celebrate the tireless efforts of hundreds of Victorian women in reforming and improving the law.