Bond launches new partnership to improve access to justice Queenslanders are still facing barriers when accessing basic legal help, according to the annual Access to Justice Scorecard run by the Queensland Law Society. For the past five years, Queensland’s Access to Justice score has consistently hovered around 5 out of 10. Despite there being little movement since 2013, Bond University is hopeful its new partnership with LawRight can help address the problem. LawRight is an independent not-forprofit that provides free legal services for individuals and community groups. Teaming up with Bond, they will be offering free legal
advice to people who are not able to afford a lawyer or obtain legal aid. People will be able to seek advice for property law, small businesses, and not-for-profits. The Director of the Bond Law Clinic Program, Dr Francina Cantatore (Class of 2001), Associate Professor at Bond University, says the new partnership would help address access-to-justice barriers and give students real-world experience. For those who cannot afford basic legal assistance, Dr Cantatore is hopeful that LawRight volunteer lawyers and Bondies can step in.
The clinics will include the LawRight Commercial Law Clinic and LawRight Property Law Clinic which will be based at the Bond University campus. Bond Law academics, student volunteers, and Gold Coast legal practitioners will staff the clinics. To request an appointment or to volunteer, please contact bondclinic@lawright.org.au or phone (07) 3248 1165.
Second intake of students boosts Medical Program Bond University’s Medical Program has taken a major leap forward with the announcement of an ongoing second annual intake of medicine students. Following approval from the Australian Medical Council, an intake of 40 students commenced in the Medical Program in September. Trialled in 2020 in response to the disruption caused by Covid, this intake will grow to 60 students from next year, in addition to the May intake of 120 students. Dean of Medicine Professor Kirsty Forrest says news of the additional intake had been very well received by the program, the University and the healthcare sector. “As a result of the global pandemic, there has never been a greater need for medical practitioners. We are helping to meet this growing need for more local interns throughout the year and
more qualified medical doctors in the coming years,” Professor Forrest says. All students accepted into the Medical Program benefit from Bond’s quality teaching staff and facilities, exceptional student support and its renowned small class sizes and accelerated learning, which sees the full Medical Program able to be completed in four years and eight months – the shortest program of its kind in Australia. The program is made up of the Bachelor of Medical Studies (two years and eight months) and the Doctor of Medical Studies (two years). This additional annual intake is a further boost for the Medical Program, which in recent years has pioneered emotional intelligence testing as part of its student selection process, expanded and diversified clinical placements, moved into improved
teaching spaces with the second stage of the HSM building, and enhanced its teaching of clinical skills. The faculty is set to chalk up another milestone in the near future with the 1000th medicine graduate expected to cross the stage during the December graduation ceremony.
“As a result of the global pandemic, there has never been a greater need for medical practitioners.”
Professor Kirsty Forrest, Ms Shivanee Gopal, Ms Priyal Bhargava, Ms Chi Celestine Truong and Mr Emmanuel Faraj following the white coat ceremony at which they swore the Hippocratic Oath. Arch, Edition 29
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