The Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria-Tarwirri would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Kulin Nation in which we reside and pay our respects to Elders past and present.  Wominjeka is a word meaning welcome in the local Woiwurrung language.    This website has been updated thanks to a small grant from the Victoria Law Foundation.

An initiative that arose from the Aboriginal Justice Agreement gave rise to the formation of the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria-Tarwirri in 2000.  ILSLAV-Tarwirri is an incorporated association providing assistance to current Indigenous law students and graduates. A primary objective of the Association is ensuring that Indigenous law students attain the same graduation and work place participation rates as those attained by other students. The Association also seeks to ensure our legal professionals are informed of events and employment opportunities.  In addition, the Association aims to raise awareness of Indigenous issues, both within the legal profession and the broader community.

The Association owes its beginnings to founding members and supporters Justice Geoffrey Eames, Linda Lovett, Beverley Burns, Moricia Vrymoet, Darren Lovett, Joslyn Tass (nee Eades), Antoinette Braybrook, Andrew Jackomos from the Department of Justice Indigenous Issues Unit and Trevor Terrick.

Above:  Full Members Syd Fry, Jidah Clark, Sana Nakata, Sharon Barnes, Bevan Mailman, Holly Charles-Ireland and Daniel Briggs at the inaugural National Indigenous Legal Conference, Sydney 2006

Local Wurundjeri artist Mandy Nicholson designed the Association’s logo – a Brolga.  The name 'Tarwirri' was chosen following a statewide competition in 2006.  As the word is from the Bangerang language in northern Victoria, permission was sought from the Traditional Owners prior to its inception.  Tarwirri means Brolga/Native Companion, and they are quite rare in Victoria today but highly noticeable when present.  This is an analogy for Indigenous lawyers and law students, who are quite rare also, but when you see them in action you will take notice immediately!