Legal Aid Queensland’s Jason Garrick fought back tears of joy and surprise as accepted this year’s Dame Quentin Bryce Domestic Violence Prevention Advocate Award at today’s Legal Profession Breakfast.
The award, presented at the Women’s Legal Service Queensland fundraising event in Brisbane, recognises outstanding activities in DFV prevention including the contribution, commitment and professionalism of an individual in the state’s legal profession.
After composing himself at the microphone to thunderous applause, Jason said “I find it very hard to accept an award for something that I love so much about what I do every day in my job.”
“So I did write down a few notes,” he said before choking up with emotion again.
“This is 13 years of build-up of vicarious trauma,” Jason quipped to much laughter from the City Hall audience.
“Firstly, thank you very much for considering me for this acknowledgment of more than a decade of my legal practice.
“It is so wonderful and lovely to be even thought about and recognised alongside a wonderful group of nominees who are so talented and capable and passionate, and I am honoured to tread the boards of legal practice with you.”
Jason dedicated the award to the “amazing teachers and colleagues who have challenged me”.
“They have asked me to lift, and to be focused always on the rule of law, and lateral problem-solving.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the wonderful work that my mum did in raising me, and my much-loved and missed father Greg, in loving me, and to the incredible women who have shaped my legal career … and those who continue to dedicate their time in making me a more competent and more capable lawyer and leader in legal practice.”
And he had a message for “every lawyer in the room”.
“Become a duty lawyer. Spend some time volunteering or working with Women’s Legal Service, ATSILS, LAQ or your local community centre,” he urged.
“Take files through pro bono programs. I encourage you to take your time to work with actual aggrieved living with social and cultural pressures.
“I want you to spend additional time to sit with that person using violence as they may find these proceedings confronting, because for the first time they may have been accountable for it.
“Take the time to respectfully and carefully take them through their options, offer therapeutic interventions as uncomfortable as might make them feel, always work towards enhancing safety and lower the future risk of violence but also incarceration.
“Every lawyer in this room is part of the legal response to domestic and family violence. We have to continue to link to lateral problem-solving as we navigate challenges to our client’s safety and well-being.
“Finally became friends with a lawyer outside of your practice area, you’d surprised that you can find solutions that you never even dreamed of.”
Dame Quentin Bryce said it was an honour to present this award on this “wonderful occasion, where we express our gratitude to all the remarkable people across our city and our state who work so hard day after day to address the most serious human rights issue in our country and around the world – domestic violence”.
The 2025 finalists were Susan Crain, Wendy Mulcahy, Natalie Powell, Maneesha Prakash and Kathleen Wincen.
The Legal Profession Breakfast raised more than $163,000 for the WLSQ.
Women’s Legal Service Queensland CEO Nadia Bromley said: “It was so inspiring to see the legal
community come together to support Women’s Legal Service Queensland. Every bit of support helps
make a difference for people experiencing domestic and family violence.”
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