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A final-year Law/Arts student with a passion for social justice and particularly Indigenous issues has been awarded this year’s Ciara Glennon Memorial Law Scholarship.

Western Australia’s Chief Justice Wayne Martin QC today presented Zoe Bush, 23, of Como, with the prestigious scholarship at The University of Western Australia. Zoe has been appointed 2016 Associate to Justice Michael Barker of the Federal Court of Australia. Justice Barker is also a graduate of UWA’s Law School.

At the tender age of 14, Zoe co-founded The Bridges Foundation – a support group for young people suffering from eating disorders – in response to the concern of carers, patients and health professionals about the availability of treatment for eating disorders in WA.

Working with Princess Margaret Hospital, The Bridges Foundation helped establish WA’s first halfway house for people with eating disorders and their families.

After commencing her studies at UWA, Zoe became Vice President of the Feminist Action Network before being elected Women’s Officer of the National Union of Students West. She was also President of the Refugee Rights Action Network (UWA).

A volunteer in community legal education for the Employment Law Centre of Western Australia, Zoe was awarded the Linda Cotton Memorial Scholarship in 2014. This scholarship enables a law student studying Indigenous issues to undertake a project that relates to the student’s demonstrated interest in the relationship between the Australian legal system and Indigenous people.

She used the scholarship to carry out research for the Yawuru people (native title holders of Broome) into the use of social investment bonds in the post-native title landscape to achieve change in criminal law. This work contributed to a significant corporate investment in Yawuru’s initiatives.

Zoe has also contributed to recommendations for law reform in Amnesty International’s Report on Indigenous Youth Justice in WA, due to be published next month.

The Ciara Glennon Memorial Scholarship was established at UWA in 1998 following the death of lawyer Ciara Glennon, and is sponsored by Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson), the law firm where Ms Glennon worked. It is awarded annually to a full-time student from UWA’s Law School who:

• · requires financial assistance to continue their studies;
• · makes a recognisable contribution to the community in a charitable, cultural, religious or sporting area;
• · demonstrates an active interest in an area outside the practice of law; and
• · demonstrates a balanced, well-rounded approach to life and a genuine concern for others.

UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Kent Anderson said Zoe more than adequately fulfilled the selection criteria for the scholarship.

“Zoe’s substantial contribution to the community reflects the aims of this University, which is to serve the community and the State, and to encourage excellence in all we do,” Professor Anderson said.

Past winners of the Ciara Glennon Scholarship include 2003 Rhodes Scholar Ben Gauntlett and 2010 Rhodes Scholar at Large Jessica Panegyres.

Media references

Zoe Bush (+61 4) 32 053 114
David Stacey (UWA Media and Public Relations Manager)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716