The 2023 Kim Santow law and social justice panel: Is there a looming crisis in social justice recruitment?

In-person event

Supported by the Kim Santow Law and Social Justice Fund, Sydney Law School’s annual panel discussion closely examines contemporary socio-legal issues, with social justice and human rights considerations central to the discussion.

Not-for-profit agencies for a social justice purpose provide a wide range of essential public activities, from client services to advocacy for change, but these agencies are facing increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. To discuss this difficult policy issue, this year’s eminent panel brings together a range of perspectives:

• Dr Anna Cody, Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner
• Thomas Costa, Assistant Secretary, Unions NSW
• Emily Hamilton, Advocacy & Communications Manager, Community Legal Centres Australia
• Rosa Loria, CEO, Sydney Multicultural Community Services
• Ben McAlpine, Director, Policy and Advocacy, NCOSS
• Bailey Riley, President, National Union of Students

The panel discussion will be facilitated by Professor Simon Rice, OAM.

The panel discussion will be followed by refreshments, and presentation of the Kim Santow Law and Social Justice Essay Prize.

About the speakers

Dr Anna Cody

Dr Cody started as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner in September 2023.

Before this, Dr Cody had a distinguished career as an academic, as a lawyer specialising in discrimination and as a passionate advocate for human rights. Her work over the years has included substantial advocacy to various United Nations human rights committees when they have reviewed Australia’s and other nations’ fulfilment of their human rights obligations.

Most recently she was the Dean of the School of Law and Professor at Western Sydney University for 4.5 years, leading education and research impact within the School to better reflect the diversity of the community and the intersection of law and justice.

Thomas Costa

Thomas is the Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW, where his responsibilities include managing the NSW peak’s communications and digital team and also its research and industrial strategy.

Thomas is also responsible for the coordination of Unions NSW’s Visa Assist Project. A partnership with the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC), Visa Assist was launched in 2019 to assist unions in representing and advocating for migrants and in particular the project provides free immigration legal support and advice to migrants who are union members.

Prior to his role at Unions NSW, Thomas worked as an industrial officer and lawyer with the national offices of the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union and the Australian Workers’ Union, he has also worked as a solicitor for Slater & Gordon Lawyers and the HIV Aids Legal Centre (HALC).

Rosa Loria

Devoting over 40 years in serving the community, Rosa and Sydney Multicultural Community Services’ team, has helped culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, including the senior, newly arrived migrants, refugees, people with a disability, and other community members. Rosa always strives her best assisting those who are in a crisis condition, struggling with language barriers, domestic violence, isolation, poverty and disadvantages.

Rosa has been doing outstanding community services to the local South Eastern Inner and  North  Sydney community members of multicultural backgrounds for more than four decades. She advocates for disadvantaged refugees and residents from multicultural backgrounds at a policy level. With her innovative initiative, she helped establishing many organizations and services including Sydney Multicultural Community Services, Youth Employment Support Scheme, Skill Share, Killara Women Refuge, Settlement Services International, The Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) Program in Northern Sydney. She has also provided employment opportunities to hundred members of the community over the years.

Ben McAlpine

Ben is the Acting CEO at NCOSS. He has over a decade of experience in the social sector, including a leadership role at one of Australia’s largest mental health not-for-profits, and as a member of the team at Social Ventures Australia. Ben has a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies, and is passionate about working together to eradicating poverty.

Bailey Riley

Bailey is the President of the National Union of Students, the peak representative body for all Australian university and higher education students with over 1 million members. Bailey grew up in the Bathurst area and started her tertiary education at her local TAFE before moving to Sydney to study at UTS. Bailey has also held the position of Indigenous Officer within the Indigenous Collective of the UTS Students’ Association.

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Thursday 30 November 2023, 6-7.30pm

Venue: Law Lounge, Level 1, New Law Building Annex (F10A), University of Sydney, Camperdown Campus

CPD points =1.5

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This event is presented by the University of Sydney Law School.