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About the Deakin Law Students’ Society The Deakin Law Students’ Society (DLSS) is one of Deakin University’s oldest and largest student societies. We are a student-run organisation which aims to assist Deakin Law students to make the most of their time at law school. Across our portfolios, we work to provide a range of events and services to assist you at every stage of your degree. Whether you want to improve your grades or make new friends, the DLSS is your one stop for all things Deakin Law!
https://www.facebook.com/ DeakinLaw/ @DeakinLSS
deakinlss https://www.linkedin.com/ company/deakin-law-students’-society/
Disclaimer This publication is provided free of charge by the Deakin Law Students’ Society (DLSS). Any opinions expressed in this publication is not necessarily a reflection of the viewpoints of or endorsed by the DLSS or the Deakin Law School, and belong solely to its authors. You can find more information on short-term study abroad programs here: https:// www.deakin.edu.au/students/studying/ deakin-abroad/short-term-partner-programs If you’re interested in the Cloud Campus, you can find more information here: https://www. deakin.edu.au/study-online Before making decisions about your enrolment, be sure to consult a course adviser to decide if it is right for you: https://www.deakin.edu. au/students/enrolment-fees-and-money/ enrolments/student-advisers
Copyright This publication is copyright. Except where permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may, in any form or by any means (electronic or otherwise) be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any process, without special written consent of the Deakin Law Students’ Society. © Deakin Law Students’ Society Room EA2.17, School of Law, Deakin University 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125 www.deakinlss.org
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ET CETERA ISSUE I 2019 Intro Et Cetera is the flagship publication of the Deakin Law Students’ Society (DLSS). It seeks to reflect the Deakin Law School zeitgeist of the time, and resonate with the interests of Deakin Law students. It aims to provoke thoughtful discussion about issues relevant to our readers as students, future legal professionals and citizens of the world.
Editorial Design | Clare Carroll, Kim Koelmeyer, Darcy White Editor | Clare Carroll Editor-in-Cheif | Kim Koelmeyer
Contributors Jessica Barker Ben Hall Emma Halliday Bek de Keijzer Kayla Laird Claudia Lyons Harriet McCarthy Niren Menon Bec Renton Maddision Sideris Vernon Singh Alex Smith Kelsey Walker
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PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD On behalf of the Deakin Law Students' Society (DLSS), I am proud to wish you a warm welcome to the first edition of the new and improved Et Cetera. For those unaware, Et Cetera is the DLSS' own publication written and curated by students, for students. Oftentimes, as law students, we lose touch with the things that make us such well-rounded individuals. We are found guilty of letting study take priority, and the hobbies, interests and passions that make us whole fall to the wayside. This publication provides an outlet and encourages students to renew their creative side, writing and discussing topics which they find interesting and meaningful. Of course, our second edition of Et Cetera is on the horizon, and the DLSS would love to give you a platform to express yourself. So if you would like to contribute, we would love to hear from you. The first edition of Et Cetera is set to be a brilliant one. Filled within these pages are compelling, topical articles written by Deakin Law students, promising to be an engaging, insightful and enjoyable read. Whether it is delving into the topic of single use plastic, debunking commercial acumen myths or students recounting their study abroad, the DLSS has ensured that there is something for everyone. So please, put down those readings, take a breather, and pick up Et Cetera! This publication would not be possible without the amazing Marketing and Communications Portfolio, who have done a splendid job, in particular, our Publications Officer Kim Koelmeyer. As alluded to, Et Cetera will return, so if you did want to contribute, please email publications@deakinlss.org. All the best, Thomas Walsh President of the DLSS
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EDITOR’S FOREWORD It is with great pleasure that I present Issue 1 of Et Cetera 2019! The role of the journalist at its purest, is to document. We write to capture, analyse and criticise the status quo. Et Cetera is an exploration of that something more. In the rush of making notes, seeking jobs and posting on Instagram, that something more is often lost in the etc. etc. We want to sit in that moment and reflect on what it means to be a Deakin Law Student at this period in time. In this issue, we invite you to sit down with us. This issue is proudly produced by students, for students. I see this a testament to the incredible work that a few dedicated, tenacious students can produce. And there are a few students I wish to acknowledge for making this issue possible. First, a huge shout out goes out to each and every one of our contributors. Thank you for putting in the time to share your ideas with the wider student body. It is a courageous step to put yourself out there – in print, no less. Your bravery and eloquence will be felt and appreciated by every reader. To the Deakin Law Students’ Society, thank you for entrusting me with reshaping Et Cetera, and working with me to make it the best that it can be. It has been a professional pleasure to bring this issue to life, and I will be forever thankful for being given the opportunity to contribute to the DLSS canon. Finally, this issue would not have been possible without the guidance of my amazing Director, Clare Carroll. She was a valuable second opinion and an absolute powerhouse for dealing with me inundating her with Slack notifications. Whether it’s tips for studying abroad or becoming more aware about the world beyond our doorstep, my hope is one article finds a place with you. Kim Koelmeyer Editor-in-Chief
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T1 AT A GLANCE MARCH 8th: First Year Crash Course/BBQ 18th: Indigenous Rights Oration 20th: Senior Moot Semi Finals - Burwood 21st: Senior Moot Semi Finals - Geelong 22nd - 24th: First Year Law Camp 27th: Senior Moot Final 28th: Client Interview Workshop King & Wood Mallesons Senior Moot Final
APRIL 3rd: Legal Writing Workshop 15th: Commercial Careers Fair 16th: Volunteering in Law 18th: Client Interview Final Commercial Careers Fair
MAY 1st: Family Law Panel 2nd: Paint Party 8th: Wellness Picnic 14th: Allens Information Seminar 16th: Defence and the Law Family Law Careers Panel
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UPCOMING... SENIOR NEGOTIATION FINAL
MEET THE PROFESSIONALS NIGHT
21 May - Herbert Smith Freehills
22 May - Woolshed Docklands
The senior negotiation sees Deakin's best student negotiators battle to be crowned champions and compete in the HSF-NLU Delhi Negotiation in India. The final will be held at Herbert Smith Freehills’ Melbourne office and teams will represent their party in an attempt to negotiate the best settlement for their client. Utilising skills that aren’t taught in textbooks the senior negotiation final is a must for any students eager to learn about advocacy beyond the court room. Dress Code: strictly corporate You MUST register if you would like to attend this event, which you can do so here!
The DLSS is proud to announce the return of our annual 2019 Meet the Professionals Night. From 6-8:30pm treat yourself to a night of delicious food whilst you network your way to a clerkship or role with Australia's best law firms. We have ensured there is a 1:2 ratio of firm reps to students so you have an amazing opportunity now to build on the connections you made at the careers fair! Get to know Australia’s most prominent firms, and give them a chance to get to know you. Upon entry you will also be given a hard copy of the 2019 Seasonal Clerkship Guide! This guide contains detailed information about clerkship intakes from each firm and also articles written both by previous HR reps and successful students about preparation for clerkships! Note that it is only available for penultimate OR final year students. There will be canapés and a bar tab available on the night. Do not miss out on this opportunity, it is only $25 and there are limited spots available! You can register here!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 10
Portfolio Spotlight: Social Justice and Equity A retrospective on the DLSS’ youngest portfolio. Director of Social Justice and Equity Bek de Keijzer takes us through the portfolio’s initiatives of this past trimeser, and beyond.
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A Universally Designed World - Is Policy Enough? The design of buildings and public spaces has lasting impacts on the lives and outcomes of people with disabilities. JD Student Bec Renton examines how Australia is faring with legislating universal design, and what work is left to be done to make our world more accessible.
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Student Wellbeing : A Holistic Experience Wellbeing is a lot more than an instagram filter and gym selfie. The Education Portfolio sits down with LIV President Matthew Daly and law student Tobias Van Haeran to explore common myths about student wellbeing, and techniques they use to get them through the demands of legal industry and Law School.
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Tips and Tricks for Studying Abroad You never know what may go wrong when you go abroad, and for some people, that means a hospital trip! Emma Halliday shares her wisdom on surviving abroad, including how to stay adaptable for when things inevtiably go wrong.
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What is Commercial Acumen?
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Study Abroad: The First, But Not the Last
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Australia’s Future Admist the Plastic Crisis
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Study Abroad: What Happens When You Want to Stay
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A History of Climate Change Policy
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Letter to My First Year Self: It Will Be Okay
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Little Failures
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Hearsay
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Reflections on the Vismoot
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PORFOLIO SPOTLIGHT:
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY BY BEK DE KEIJZER
Despite being the DLSS’s newest portfolio (in only our second year of operation), the Social Justice and Equity Portfolio has made important strides in increasing awareness of social justice issues for Deakin Law students. Through events, publications and the introduction of equitable initiatives, we aim to inspire future lawyers to recognise their professional responsibility in making a positive impact on society, raise awareness to encourage progressive law reform and show students how they can use their law degrees to fight injustice. This trimester we wanted to highlight a few of our initiatives, including the Indigenous Rights Oration, Volunteering in Law Panel and our Volunteer in Law handbook.
The Mabo Decision: An Indigenous Rights Oration by Bryan Keon-Cohen The Deakin Law Students' Society hosted The Mabo Decision: An Indigenous Rights Oration by Bryan Keon-Cohen on Monday the 18th of March at Burwood Corporate Centre. Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen was junior counsel for the plaintiffs throughout the Mabo litigation and has since acted for claimants in many native title and immigration matters in the Federal Court, also appearing in the High Court in significant constitutional, native title
and refugee matters; and has written and lectured extensively on Indigenous rights. Dr Bryan gave an incredible overview of his firsthand experience in litigation throughout the Mabo case, legal developments in native title since and how these will shape the future. This event was a wonderful opportunity to show students how the law can be used as a tool to create positive social change, increasing understanding of native title issues and indigenous rights in the law more generally! We encourage students to seek out the books, articles and conference papers Bryan has written on native title and law reform. Since appearing at the DLSS’ Indigenous Rights Oration, Bryan has also guest lectured for MLL327 Property Law, so students may also have the opportunity to speak to him in person.
Voluntering in Law The Social Justice and Equity portfolio also hosted the Volunteering in Law panel on 16th April at Burwood Corporate Centre. Not only is volunteering an important way to gain real-life experience while studying law and gain a better understanding of the field you are about to enter, but it also helps 10
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deliver justice to those most vulnerable in society. Volunteering exposes students to different perspectives on social issues
This handbook aims to guide students to find a volunteer position in the community legal sector, given that many students were finding it incredibly difficult to find volunteer opportunities. Often, students had given up on volunteering in the legal sector thinking that the process was too difficult and selective. Therefore, the 2018 Social Justice and Equity Portfolio wanted to encourage students to see the importance of volunteering and give insight on the process of securing a volunteer position.
and can show students how powerful their law degrees are in evoking social change. The Volunteering in Law panel featured panellists from 4 organisations who rely on law student volunteers. They discussed everything you need to know about their respective organisations, how to apply, and what they look for in the recruiting process. The DLSS hosted representatives from: - Prison Legal Education and Assistance (PLEA) Project - Environmental Justice Australia - Eastern Community Legal Centre - Asylum Seeker Resource Centre For more information on how you can volunteer at these organisations or other similar Community Legal Centres, we would strongly encourage students to obtain a copy of our Volunteer Handbook (available at all DLSS Social Justice & Equity events) or check out our website for an electronic version.
The Volunteer Handbook Last year, the Social Justice & Equity Portfolio published the DLSS Volunteer Handbook available free to any Deakin Law Student.
The result was the Volunteer Handbook which took 9 months to compile and contains biographies of every CLC in Victoria, opinion pieces on social justice issues in the law and reflection pieces of students who have undertaken volunteer opportunities. We hope this handbook will not only make the process of volunteering easier, but encourage students to invest their time and talents into creating a more equal society. Bek de Keijzer is the Director of Social Justce and Equity of the Deakin Law Students’ Society. She believes that watching and repeating things heard on RuPaul’s Drag Race is a substitute for a personality.
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WHAT IS COMMERCIAL ACUMEN? BY NIREN MENON AND ALEX SMITH
It is time to debunk this buzzword. Commercial law firms look for this in potential clerks and graduates. They view it as an integral factor in deciding whether you are a good fit or not. Gone are the days when you could get somewhere in the industry solely by applying the law to the facts and think that you have solved a legal issue. All of a sudden, a simple knowledge of the law is not enough. Developing your commercial acumen will help you to gain a competitive career advantage and to stay relevant in a rapidly-evolving industry. Clients expect their lawyers to have an in depth understanding of how a business operates, what the key factors for profitability and growth are, and how to make optimal use of resources at hand. For example, some clients may prefer to resolve their matter by settling in order to protect their reputation, even if they are likely to receive a better monetary outcome through litigation.
our notes, we don’t really bother applying any contextual knowledge we may have to our answers. As the lawyers of tomorrow, that is simply not enough anymore. Knowledge of current deals, transactions and issues in the business world makes you more desirable as a potential employee because it demonstrates that you are taking the proactive step of being aware. This awareness will enable you to engage in more nuanced conversations and correspondence, and to complete more situation-appropriate legal research. For commercial lawyers, the ability to understand a client’s business needs and provide legal advice which helps the client meet those needs is imperative. Commercial acumen also helps understanding the business needs of and never losing track of the strategic vision of the firm you are a part of.
Whichever area of law you decide to go into, you will need to demonstrate that you are commercially aware in order to Essentially, lawyers are required to adopt convince law firms that you are going to be a more holistic approach when analysing able to help drive their business forward. an issue, something exams don’t exactly prepare us for. In an exam, we are so busy To put it simply, understand your focusing on the specifics of the facts and client and they will understand 12
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your advice. By understanding their business, you are helping it move forward.
How Does One Develop Commercial Acumen? Research, Research, Research! Remaining active on LinkedIn and paying close attention to the news and the Australian Financial Review/Lawyers Weekly are handy starting points (Deakin students have free access to the AFR!). One of the most powerful sources is finding a mentor who is already settled in the profession, as you get information about what is happening straight from the horse’s mouth. Don’t be afraid to ‘stalk’ and message lawyers on LinkedIn who you would love to have a chat with. You will often find that they are more than happy to meet with you and share what they know, and this can be an invaluable source of information and guidance. As law students and as future lawyers, we are on a perennial journey of seeking knowledge. Since most of our work will be client-centric, we must ensure we have the requisite knowledge to further their interests to the best of our ability. At the end of the day, attaining commercial acumen is unlike attaining Nirvana. We can never reach a state of ‘acumen.’ It is about being proactive and about applying real world knowledge to our work!
"Knowledge of current deals, transactions and issues in the business world makes you more desirable as a potential employee because it demonstrates that you are taking the proactive step of being aware."
Niren is the Director of Commercial Careers of the Deakin Law Students’ Society. He is a fifth year Law/ Arts student and loves his life. He spends his spare time teaching French and going down the rabbit hole that is his YouTube Recommended Videos. He is also always planning for his next trip overseas. Alex is the Clerkship Guide Officer of the Deakin Law Students’ Society.
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AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE AMIDST THE PLASTIC CRISIS BY CLAUDIA LYONS The Legal Path We May Take
legislative frameworks required to make such a significant change to consumer We are in the midst of an international and business practises is monumental plastic crisis. For reference, plastic wasn’t but Victoria is making small steps. invented until the late 19th century, and production only took off around 1950. In June 2018, the Victorian Government Now, we have a mere 9.2 billion tons announced the next steps towards the of plastic to deal with. Plastic can be legislative ban of single-use plastic bags. recycled; however, 6.3 billion tons of our This included the plastic bag ban in total waste has never made it to a recycling major supermarkets which came into bin. The effect of the plastic on our planet effect in June-July of 2018. The ban of has been widely recorded. Micro-plastics single-use plastic bags in all stores will have been found in fish, flying insects, tap come into effect from the end of 2019. water and even in human faeces! A whale The Victorian Government will develop was found dead with 23kg of plastic in its a further plan to reduce other types of stomach and the simple fact is that we plastic pollution in our environment with a simply do not know how long plastic takes reference group involving representatives to fully degrade, if ever. As a result, there from government, industry, retail and has been an increasing move across the community groups to advise on possible world to break our plastic habit, with the strategies. Hopefully, this group will EU, Greek, Egypt and even some US states establish the need for a ban on all single-use starting to legislate their plastic bans. plastic and develop a strategy to initiate it. In a first for Australia, Hobart City Council voted in a by-law which would introduce a full single-use plastic ban by 2020. This is a significant move in the transition to a plastic-free society but begs the question of whether this level of reform will be possible in Australia’s largest cities and states. The regulatory and
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A blanket ban on single-use plastic will require a long transition period to ensure alternative packaging is available and is able to be widely produced at a cheaper cost as it currently costly to use a plastic packaging alternative. The main source of backlash for a large-scale replacement of plastic will come from small-businesses, as
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Hobart has faced. Robert Mallet, the CEO of the Tasmanian Small Business Council, said he was concerned about the strain this would cause small businesses and thought that this was a move better orchestrated by the State government. Victoria seems to be on that path, and also seems to be understanding of the result of a plastic ban on small businesses. The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, ensures that, “The Government will continue to work closely with Victorian communities and businesses to design the ban – to ensure it works for all Victorians and our environment.” when another Victorian recycling plant has been recently closed due to a risk of What’s Wrong with Recycling? combustion. There have been close to A common misconception about the use 30 Victorian councils struggling to find of plastic is that we are recycling it all, somewhere to dispose of their recyclable and while most households certainly do waste. A City of Greater Geelong statement ensure they are using their recycling bin said, “as an interim measure, recyclable correctly, we no longer have the facilities to materials will be sent to landfill.” The recycle the amount of plastic we consume. issues of plastics in landfill being nondegradable has been widely established. Australia has previously exported a huge amount of our plastic waste to countries Therefore, it comes down to this: such as China, Vietnam and Malaysia significantly reduce our plastic use or to be recycled. This export has had to continue to clog up the planet with our considerably slow down as recycling harmful legacy. As making a huge societal companies in these regions call a halt on change off the back of soft policy is far importing plastics. China, in particular, from effective, the law is necessary to make has banned imports with a contamination the difference to save our planet. As law of over 0.5 (any households plastic items students, and the generation who will be at with a lid or label would breach this). the forefront of climate change, it is up to us. With exporting our plastic waste now becoming a limited option, there are significant calls to the Federal government to assist with the recycling industry by establishing more recycling plants and encouraging consumers to purchase less plastic. A move like this seems unlikely
Claudia is the Vice President of the Deakin Law Students’ Society and hopes to help reverse climate change one day. She loves dogs, cooking and rewatching Vine compilations in her spare time.
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A UNIVERSALLY DESIGNED WORLD IS POLICY ENOUGH? BY BEC RENTON When we think about our built environment and the way we move in and around it, we think about all of the wonderful things we can do and see. However, for those who have not had full access to all aspects of the environment, thinking about it can invoke feelings of isolation, depression and anxiety.[1]
Schemes Information, Linkages and Capacity Building objectives and the Victorian State Disability Plan 2017-2020.[3][4][5][6][7] One design concept adopted and promoted within these policies is Universal Design (UD). UD, originating from the field of industrial design and architecture, is a design theory comprised of a set of 7 principles dedicated to the promotion and realisation of barrier free environments that are subtly and seamlessly accessible and user friendly to all, proving UD a clear fundamental tool in the advancement of creating an inclusive society.[8]
It is now widely recognised that the built environment and its levels of accessibility or inaccessibility have a large impact on the participation, engagement, and in turn the health and wellbeing of not only people living with a disability, How is Australia Faring in Terms but the wider community at large.[2] As a result, removing barriers and creating accessible built environments is now not only heavily promoted by the World Health Organization. It is a core aim within global, national and state policies, including the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the National Disability Strategy, and subsequently reflected and reinforced within the National Disability Insurance 16
of Implementing Accessible and Barrier-Free Environments and Incorporating Inclusive Thinking and Universal Design into Building and Architectural practices? The answer is complicated, and this is widely due to gaps in legislation that have allowed some areas of building and design, to progress faster than others.[9] The Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010[10]
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and the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) [11] have distinct guidelines for providing accessibility in public spaces, however the lack of accessibility standards for the design of new homes and private dwellings has seen a severe lack of progression in this area. Private dwellings are an area that contributes greatly to feelings of isolation, lack of independence and social exclusion, as those without inclusively designed homes cannot even access their own laundry in some instances and visit family and friends in others.
Why Has a Decent Minimum Standard for Accessibility in Homes Not Made its Way Into Legislation the Same Way as Public Spaces Have? This is largely due to industry controlling the landscape when it comes to private dwellings. Due to this, the uptake of laws for ensuring accessibility in all newly built homes has been severely opposed and in turn, delayed.[13] For those invested in the sought after changes, following the progress of policy to potential law reform is a long and sometimes painful process. It has now been over 10 years since Australia ratified the CRPD. Since then, the promotion of accessibility and UD in homes entered into national and state discourse. In around 2009, it also eventuated into National and State Guidelines and Policy, including but not limited to, the National Disability Strategy (2010-20) and the Livable Housing Initiative, which includes the voluntary ‘Livable Housing Guidelines’ produced by Livable Housing Australia.[14] However, the voluntary nature of the current guidelines and policies surrounding newly-built homes makes the level of UD’s adoption extremely variable and hard to track, as tracking is
reliant on individuals self-reporting and/ or industry and private companies agreeing to participate in forums and interviews conducted by small independent advocacy groups with limited funding to gather data.[15] The tracking and reporting done by the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design suggests that inclusive design is making its way into new homes incredibly slowly, and under previously set targets by up to 94%.[16] Similarly, it is hard to evaluate the level of inclusive design being incorporated into relevant education and hence being taught to our future builders and designers to ensure fulfillment of existing policy recommendations. In contrast, the progress of accessibility in public spaces has been widely observed and ensured as it is governed by legislation. [17] In this sense, the law has provided a base for the vast improvement of the health and wellbeing of those previously excluded in public spaces and unable to attend events and functions due to inaccessibility.
So What is Being Done Now to Improve Accessibility in Housing? The voices of those whom have been affected by the social exclusion and forgotten in design processes, and the advocacy groups and advocates of inclusive design that have been working hard for decades lobbying the government in pursuit of law reform for accessibility in homes have finally been heard, or at least considered. Last year (2018) the Building Ministers’ Forum proposed reforming the National Construction Codes (NCC) to incorporate higher levels of accessibility in newlybuilt homes. In response the Government 17
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contacted the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for whom the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is a member, and issued a National Consultation to discuss the possible reform. The reform would see Silver or Gold Standard minimum accessibility requirements for all newly built homes included in the NCC. The Consultation has involved running forums in each capital city to gather insight into public opinion and is now currently undertaking a Risk Impact Assessment to explore fiscal viability. [18] The accessibility of the consultation process itself in terms of reaching the desired audience (people of all abilities) has been questionable, but the process is still in place and submissions are in the process of being examined. The Consultations Outcomes Report is due to be released this year (2019) and the final decision on whether the reform will be successful will be announced in 2021 and take effect in 2022.[19]
lives advocating for accessibility in homes. Even if they may not see the full realisation of their hard work and persistence...the next generations most definitely will. For more information on this topic or to visit the ABCB to follow progress on this consultation please visit; https://anuhd.org/ or the https://www.abcb.gov.au/Initiatives/ All/Accessible-Housing Bec Renton is a Juris Doctor student. Bec is also undertaking her Health Science Honours year completing an original research project regarding Universal Design content in Victorian Architectural courses. Bec has worked in the Health and Disability Sector for 15 years and is a passionate advocate for accessibility in the built environment.
Who Will These Changes Benefit? The benefits of this reform will not only be seen in the improved health outcomes for those previously affected by non-inclusive design, but more broadly, in fiscal benefits via decreasing the need to adapt and adjust homes to accommodate later stages of life. Costs that can burden families already in financial hardship, and with an ageing population these preventative measures make logical sense. The reforms will also improve housing options for young people with disabilities who have previously had no other option than to live in residential aged care facilities. If successful, this reform will be long awaited and welcome development for those who have lived almost their entire 18
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REFERENCES [9] Margaret Ward, Keith Jacobs, ‘Policies that Fail – Words that Succeed’: The Politics of Accessible Housing in Australia’ (2016) 76(1) Australian Journal of Public Administration 80-92
[1] World Health Organisation, World Report on Disability (2017), 177 <http://www.who.int/ disabilities/world_report/2011/report.pdf> [2] Ibid. [3] United Nations, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2007, (2007) 1-30 <https://www.un.org/development/desa/ disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-ofpersons-with-disabilities/convention-on-therights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2.html>
[10] Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010, https://www. legislation.gov.au/Details/F2010L00668
[4] Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) s 6
[12] J Harrison et al, ‘Promoting universal design in architectural education.’ Universal Design in Education, November 2015 12-13
[11] Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) s6
[5] Commonwealth of Australia, ‘National Disability Strategy 2010-2020’, National Disability Strategy, 2011 <https://www.dss. gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2012/ national_disability_strategy_2010_2020.pdf>
[13] Above n 9. [14] Livable Housing Australia, ‘Livable Housing Design Guidelines’ Disability and Carers (2012) https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/ default/files/documents/09_2012/lhd_ guidelines_2012_secondedition1.pdf
[6] National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Community Inclusion and Capacity Development (CICD) Program Guidelines. Implementing Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC), 2016<http://www. vicserv.org.au/images/PDF/Policy/NDIS/ Program-Guidelines-for-ILC.pdf> [7] Victorian Government, ‘Absolutely Everyone State disability plan 2017–2020’, Victorian State Disability Plan, 2016 <http:// www.statedisabilityplan.vic.gov.au/application/ files/2314/8062/9382/1610033_Victorian_state_ disability_plan_2017-2020_Text_WEB.pdf>
[15] Margaret Ward, Keith Jacobs, ‘Policies that Fail – Words that Succeed’: The Politics of Accessible Housing in Australia’ (2016) 76(1) Australian Journal of Public Administration 80-92 [16] Ibid. [17] Kevin Busby, Jim Harrison, ‘Universal Design in Architectural Education – Community Liaison on ‘Live Projects’ (2018) [18] Australian Building Codes Board, ‘Accessible Housing Options Paper’, Accessible Housing (2018) https://www.abcb. gov.au/Initiatives/All/Accessible-Housing
[8] R Imrie, 'Universalism, universal design and equitable access to the built environment' (2012) 34 (10) Disability & Rehabilitation 873882
[19] Ibid. 19
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A HISTORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY BY HARRIET MCCARTHY As human beings, we often indulge in the idea of being able to envisage how the future may unfold. Despite our inherent appetite for control, we repeatedly neglect the opportunities given to us to create and facilitate positive change in our world. There is an imminent threat to mankind and all we have built, veiled by misconception and nonchalance. It is the sweeping plight that preys on our extraordinary earth and all the beautiful creatures that occupy it. This relentless and fast-moving crisis is Climate Change. Nonetheless, from the 1980s to 2019, it has become increasingly recognised that climate reform is fundamental to preserving the world around us. Hundreds of states have begun to band together to effect change, through the conception of various legislative bodies with the responsibility of monitoring the impact our actions have on the environment and the ways in which we can mitigate the negative consequences these produce.
A Timeline of Progress November 1988 Establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) andUnited Nations EnvironmentProgramme 20
(UNEP) establish the IPCC. This body is responsible for providing objective and scientific views of climate change, including the economic and environmental risks and consequences. November 1990 The IPCC releases the first assessment report saying emissions resulting from human activities are substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, leading to the call for a global treaty. 11 December 1990 UN General Assembly establishes the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for a Framework Convention on Climate Change. This involved more than 150 states discussing binding agreements, targets and timetables for emissions reductions.
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June 1992 The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change opens for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio, bringing states together to curb greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changing climates.
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. December 2015 All nations band together for the first time in support of The Paris Agreement, detailing their current and future obligations.
April 1995 The Berlin Mandate establishes a process to negotiate strengthened commitments for developed countries, thus laying the groundwork for the Kyoto Protocol.
December 2017 World leaders gather in Paris to demonstrate how billions of dollars could be shifted towards a low-carbon future. Given these momentous legislative changes on the world stage, it would not be remiss to believe Australia is truly appreciating the urgency of revising and reforming our own, independent Climate Change policies. Unfortunately, since the 2015 Paris Agreement, which endeavoured to reduce carbon emissions by 26-28% by 2030, Australia has averaged 0.95 of a degree above our long-term average. Achieving bipartisan approval and compliance over the appropriate steps to meeting our international obligations is arguably inconceivable, because it is not an easy feat. To that end, the demand for the Australian community to join the fight for change is pressing and imminent.
11 December 1997 The third Conference of the Parties accomplishes the Kyoto Protocol, the world's first greenhouse gas emissions reduction treaty. November 2001 The seventh Conference of the Parties results in the Marrakesh Accords, setting the stage for ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. January 2005 The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, the first and largest emissions trading scheme in the world, launches as a major pillar of EU climate policy. Installations regulated by the scheme are collectively responsible for close to half of the EU's emissions of CO2.
It is important to understand the influence we have as individuals and as a community. What can you do? Reduce energy use in your homes, be mindful of your carbon footprint when shopping, recycle and reuse, avoid overuse of plastics and most importantly encourage discourse about these issues within your families and workplaces.
December 2010 The sixteenth Conference of the Parties results in the Cancun Agreements, an allinclusive scheme by governments to assist developing nations in tackling climate change. November 2013 Conception of the Warsaw Outcomes, including a rulebook for reducing
Harriet is a Social Justice and Equity Officer of the Deakin Law Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Society.
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LITTLE FAILURES Contrary to popular belief, no one is as perfect and shiny as their LinkedIn profile. The demands to be the perfect law student can tend to skew percetions. It's easy to feel like you're a huge failure, while everyone else is a success. This is not the case at all! We want to turn this percetion on its head, because no matter where we are in life, we all still slip up and make silly little mistakes. So here are some of our Little Failures.
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I handed in an essay with just my name on it, was given 5%, which was a 60% weighting”
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I deleted an affidavit of documents twice...once while my boss was standing behind me”
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I sat through an entire clerkship interview with half the back of my dress unzipped”
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I asked a senior HR rep if she was enjoying her grad year”
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I lost an original document and had to call the other side to send it again”
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I messed up the printer by copying documents with the staples still in”
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I said “no worries your honour” to a judge when representing Deakin at a moot competition and got absolutely BLASTED for it”
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Handed in a draft copy instead of the final copy of an essay and ended up crying in the unit chair's office (first year was very emotional for me apparently)”
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STUDENT WELLBEING: A HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE BY VERNON SINGH AND KELSEY WALKER
In an ever-changing culture, attention is drawn then dissipated to form trends. One such trend, which should prevail against all else is that of wellbeing. Unfortunately, wellbeing has been placed in the 1080px by 1080px Instagram square, whereby an overpriced juice ingested on a 10-minute lunch break serves as iconography of health, and where wellbeing is pigeonholed into one's personal life, never to unite within the workplace. To shed some much needed light on the topic of wellbeing in law, we have conversed with two individuals: a junior law student and a legal professional.
Always Busy is Not Always Good Matthew Daly “Being busy is definitely a pressing issue for law students and law graduates, who are under the impression that their worth is derived from their output.” Daly begins to elaborate by explaining that this perception is skewed, as many people are not actually busy. “Those who do appear to always be busy, may be productive, however this is usually only in short bursts.”
“A job is a job and a job must be done, but taking care of yourself is job number one”.
Matthew Daly, on paper, is the President of Law Institute of Victoria's (LIV) Young Lawyers and a practicing lawyer at Sparke Helmore Lawyers. In person, he breathes life into what these roles mean to him, and how he manages to sustain his passion, health and wellbeing. Daly tells us about his mentor, who is Tobias van Haeran is a third year a partner to a top tier firm. His mentor Deakin student undertaking a double reiterates that sustaining an output is much degree in Law and Science. His more important than working in bursts and study experience and commendable plateaus. If you think about it realistically, marks highlight value in his insight. “it is not important for law students to attend every single event, or to attain top marks in 24
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every subject.” Law students should focus on their own pinnacle of productivity that leads to output and work towards that. Knowing when to slow down is essential. Something overlooked in the legal sphere. Daly reiterates this through a story of his friend who has contracted glandular fever and worked through it. In the long term, this has set them back further than if they chose to slow down. If you are enduring stress which is prohibiting your ability to work to the best of your ability, seek extensions, consider going down to a part time load. It is not vital that the degree is finished in five years, what is important is the ability to perform at your personal best consistently. The law, and the want to excel in it are not the most important thing in your life. Many people practice law for a period of time and recognise that they no longer wish to continue. It is vital that positive, healthy relationships are sustained during your legal education. “A job is a job and a job must be done, but taking care of yourself is job number one”. Tobias Van Haeran “It’s definitely easy to become submerged in the pressures of life, and the anxiety associated with approaching deadlines. In particular, it is taxing to equalise the pressure to remain busy, and as is if you’re working to the expected standard whilst also desiring to switch off.” To combat this, Van Haeran intentionally allocates times of the day to certain 25
tasks. Motivation sustains his approach to complete his daily study. By setting aside a period of time to relax after a period of engaging with his University work, he is able to look forward to this break. This is especially helpful in combating difficult and dry subjects (we’re looking at you, Constitutional Law).
Balance Work with Play Matthew Daly Being President of the LIV Young Lawyers is no easy task, but Daly has combated the issue of balance through frank conversations with his employer. He refrains from performing LIV tasks whilst he is at Sparke Helmore Lawyers. Thus, there is an importance of blocking out time to commit to certain tasks. In regards to time management, Daly invests time in the beginning of his projects. He considers what initiatives he will start, and how best to do it. Whilst this may take more time initially, it reduces time spent in the middle of a project.
"It is important for law students and law graduates to take the time to invest in other areas of their lives."
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It is important for law students and law graduates to take the time to invest in other areas of their lives. This enables for work life balance, but also provides a basis of appeal to prospective employers. It is no secret that standing out in legal interviews is an endeavor of each student and “the best way to do this is to have an array of interests and experiences outside the law.”
Moreover, physically removing himself from his study space and routine, such as by venturing to Torquay to surf alleviates the monotony of routine and allows for immersion in nature.
If in need of an accessible and efficient solution to mental fatigue, Van Haeran will engage in a short jog. The boost of endorphins provides for a healthy mindset, allowing One of Daly’s most fulfilling experiences him to be able to switch back on when has been his involvement in Monash working on those grueling assignments. University’s Exchange Student’s Club, Van Haeran relies on consistency to founded by himself. The knowledge that he ensure he has time to engage with his has benefitted interacting with numerous passions, without the need to compromise students, alongside the transferable skills of on his academics. By establishing a management, have equipped him with joy routine, he is able to allocate specific and the ability to be a well rounded lawyer. time to working on his personal interests.
"Sleep is something Outside of study, he promotes intentional of time; that is, thinking explicitly that you have to make use about what you would like to do with your free time rather than subconsciously time for and really through social media. consider, elsewise the scrolling Don’t Boast About Your Lack of Sleep quality of your work Matthew Daly will decrease, as will Daly affirms the need for sleep, stressing the quality of your day. there is a correlation between a lack of sleep and lack of peak performance. “To "Tobias Van Haeran boast about a lack of sleep is not a boast at Van Haeran, if saturated in study, elects to attend the gym. Through this, he is able to enter an atmosphere of like-minded individuals who are each focused on selfbetterment. This is most convenient in balancing a consistent study schedule, as unlike team sports, he does not have the pressure of being relied on by others.
all; this signifies that you haven’t prepared very well to begin with.” Daly continues, “the ability to perform tasks when sleep deprived does not mean you will do them well.” Daly then highlights concerning statistics, which divulge that the effects of being awake for 17 hours has an analogous effect to possessing a blood alcohol content of 0.5. If you wouldn’t consider writing a
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law exam, or completing an assignment intoxicated, it’s best to place the pen down. Techniques to combat sleep deprivation presented by Daly include: limiting screen time an hour before bed, reading a book to unwind and limiting the amount of light present in ones bedroom during sleep. Moreover, to remove the pressure to continue working, Daly suggests removing one’s study space from their bedroom. Daly also shares his family wisdom that each hour of sleep attained before midnight is worth double. “Therefore, sleeping earlier necessitates less sleep and provides additional time the following day to complete tasks.” Tobias Van Haeran “Sleep is of the utmost importance.” Sleep is something that you have to make time for and really consider, elsewise the quality of your work will decrease, as will the quality of your day. When sleep deprived, we become clumsy, agitated and generally frustrated, whereas when we are receiving adequate sleep, we are able to approach our tasks with intentionality, concentration and optimism.
But What About My Marks? In law school, the bell curve system often skews the impression students have of their abilities and therefore expectations of themselves. “Marks are not everything.” says Daly. “They are a mere factor to be considered by employers, in respect of your extracurricular, volunteering, interests and personality.” It is fundamental that students do not become disillusioned by what they perceive to be inadequate marks. If you do have low marks in
your earlier years, Daly encourages students to keep their heads up high as “employers will recognise a consistent improvement in marks. This will stand out more than a student who has attained consistent HDs.”
"Your health is priority number one. The first step is to determine where your stress is derived from. Consider whether the subject load is too much, the subjects are too advanced, if you’re working too many hours, or if the culture of your workplace is not correlative with your values." In the meantime, Daly recommends each student should volunteer in legal centers, enquire about shadowing and consider obtaining employment in an organisation with transferable skills.
Why You Should Be a Little Stressed “Stress,” Daly defends, “is not always the enemy.” What does that mean? Well stress can be positive, as it signifies that the individual possess passion and care. Even barristers, as noted by Daly “Barristers encounter this 27
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he tells us. “Barristers have told me that if they are not stressing about advocating for a case, it means that they don’t care about it.” In saying this, stress must be monitored and its sources duly investigated.
Tobias Van Haeran Rather than focusing on a specific mantra, Van Haeran concentrates on short and long term goals. He establishes what he would like to achieve, which the thought of motivates him to persist.
Your health is priority number one. The first step is to determine where your stress is derived from. Consider whether the subject load is too much, the subjects are too advanced, if you’re working too many hours, or if the culture of your workplace is not correlative with your values.
However, if he had to elect a belief, it would be to “do what you can, so that you can work for what you believe in.”
Channel your resilience wisely. Your resilience builds when you deal with stressors one at a time. Plan your large life events out. Refrain from moving and beginning a new job at a time. Don’t plan to begin volunteering if you’re combating a high course load.
A Final Note...
Mantras and Beliefs: They Help You Stick to Something Matthew Daly Daly abides by multiple quotations. Firstly, Mohammad Ali’s elucidation that ‘impossible is just a big word thrown around by a small man’. In dissecting this, Daly explicates the importance of persisting in a society which often tells us that we cannot do certain things. In his experience, Daly has learnt to persist and identify alternative pathways to venture to the road he desires. Secondly, Daly embodies the notion of experiencing joy in each moment. As professed by both Steve Jobs and Arnold Schwarzenegger, if joy is not being experienced, something in your routine must shift. 28
Moreover, kind both along the
he promotes to yourself and journey to your
being others goals.
On a final note, we hope you have gathered that your wellbeing is a vital part of your success in this degree. If you haven’t put any of the above mechanisms in place this year or in your entire degree, do not fret, a lot of us haven’t. But it is important to start somewhere, even if you are in your fifth year. Why? Well the mechanisms Daly and Van Haeran have discussed at length are not only applicable to your lives at law school, but also applicable after graduation, whether it be in the legal or profession or another profession. If you enjoyed this article and would like to know more about what Matthew Daly does at the LIV, visit www.liv.asn.au. Vernon is the Director of Education of the Deakin Law Students’ Society. He has an unhealthy obsession with watching Gordon Ramsay videos on YouTube in his spare time. Kelsey is the Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer of the Deakin Law Students’ Society and is impassioned by encouraging law students to acknowledge and improve their personal wellbeing.
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EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD, BUT NO ONE THINKS OF CHANGING HIMSELF. - LEO TOLSTOY
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REFLECTIONS ON THE VISMOOT BY KAYLA LAIRD I had the opportunity to represent Deakin University at the 26th Annual Willem C. Vis International Arbitration Moot with my 4 team members, Reid Hadaway, Stephanie Johnson, Vivien Jones and Jessie Nygh. The Vis Moot is an international moot competition taking place in Vienna and Hong Kong each year with the intention of fostering study in international commercial arbitration. Students from universities around the world prepare for 6 months or more, before presenting oral arguments against each other in March/April each year. Our whole journey began with our first meeting before our Trimester 2 exams in September 2018, and it didn’t stop until our last moot in Vienna on 16 April 2019. I remember reading the problem when it was first released in October. Firstly, questioning why they had chosen this year’s problem to be about horse semen, and then secondly realizing that I knew nothing about arbitration. It became apparent very quickly that it would be a very long and hard summer. However, one that I would gladly do again.
From Left: Duncan Travis, Stephanie Johnson, Reid Hadaway, Vivien Jones, Jessie Nygh, Kayla Laird and Jeff Waincymer
learnt how to compare and analyse the different legal principles and rules from common law and civil law countries. We had to learn the rules and principles of arbitration and why there could be three different laws applying to one contract. A part of the process requires the submission of a 35-page Claimant’s memorandum, and then approximately 6 weeks later, the submission of two 35-Page Respondent’s memorandum. There were a lot of long days and nights in the Burwood library, more than we care to admit.
We had to learn how to rely upon scholars and be less reliant upon cases. We But the real fun was in the development of
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arguments and working out how to present the best case for our client. Participating in the Vis Moot was the most rewarding and challenging experience of my law degree. An important part of the process is practicing mooting on a weekly basis, either with our team mates, coaches, Deakin alumni or Supreme Court judges. One of our highlights during our practice moots in Melbourne, was having the opportunity to advocate in front of Justice Croft in the Supreme Court of Victoria. After all our hard work and practice in Melbourne, we eventually travelled to Hong Kong, Budapest and Vienna to finally present our arguments against the other teams from around the world who had also been discussing horse semen for 7 months. Our three Hong Kong speakers, Jessie, Reid and myself had the first opportunity to represent our clients and present our best arguments before the tribunal. We had four general rounds with speakers performing admirably. We also joined the arbitral and stood in as Arbitrators for the Budapest pre-moot. In Vienna, our two speakers Viv and Steph, did exceptionally well, ranking 17th of 376 teams after the general rounds, making it through to the top 64. Steph also deservedly came away with an honorable mention, being in the top 10% of speakers in Vienna. The Vis Moot is not just a mooting competition, it is an excellent opportunity and experience to learn and develop skills that you would not normally during your degree, including advocacy skills, public speaking skills and how to work closely in
a team for 7 months. I originally decided to participate in the moot in order to develop my public speaking skills and I learnt not only how to confidently speak publicly, but I learnt how to be a good advocate. When I mooted in Hong Kong alongside my colleagues, I realised how far I had come.
"Participating in the Vis Moot was the most rewarding and challenging experience of my law degree."
We made many friends from Germany, Costa Rica, Poland and France. We spent our free time exploring the cities, going to Hong Kong Disneyland, seeking out good coffee and of course, socialising at the moot bar. Although we were robbed of the Party Award, we proudly left the Vis Moot with the self-proclaimed title as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Nicest Team at the Vis Mootâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I must take the opportunity to thank my amazing team mates, Viv, Jessie, Steph and Reid, who put up with my weird sleeping hours and distain for early morning meetings. Thank you to Jenni Lightowlers, Karen Powell, Erin Ritchie and Andrea Anastasi for providing us with unwavering support and assistance. I could not be more grateful for our three coaches, Professor Jefferey Waincymer, Mr Duncan Travis and Dr Shu Zhang, who taught us more than we could have imagined. You can find more information on the VisMoot here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/ law/study-opportunities/vis-moot
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TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SURVIVING ABROAD BY EMMA HALLIDAY
I am going to be honest, when the idea of living by myself and studying in a foreign country was first suggested to me, I was terrified. My mind ran wild with all the possibilities like what if my life turned into the first 'Taken' movie, except I don’t have Liam Neeson to save me? Well, it was because of my sheer terror that I decided exchange was the best thing for me, and it became one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I’d like to think I learned some things along the way, so here’s my tips and tricks for surviving abroad.
around Manchester desperately trying to find a place to live for three months in fear they would be homeless by the end of the week. Not exactly a great start to your exchange. If you can, do what I did, as I found a place online that was willing to take me for three months, and was happy for me to hold off on paying rent until I inspected the property. I did have to pay a one hundred pound administration fee, but considering how I could kick back and relax while everyone ran around trying to find a home, for me it was worth it.
Organise Your Accommodation Before You Go.
If There is a Pre-Aemester Hostel Booked Out For Students, Stay There.
This sounds obvious, however is the exact opposite of what my exchange university, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), recommended. In fear of students falling for scams and transferring rent for properties that do not exist, they recommended we avoided looking at housing until we got to Manchester. However, I witnessed the alternative, which was students running
MMU pre-booked hostel beds for all the exchange students to stay in while they were searching for accommodation. Fortunately, I booked the hostel before I found my semester accommodation and decided to stay in the hostel for a week anyway. It was the best decision I ever made. You are put in a room with exchange students going to the same university, and my roommates became my friends for
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the entirety of my exchange. Nothing binds people together than quite literally living on top of each other for a week. If your host university offers a similar opportunity, take it.
If/When Something Goes Wrong, Do Not Panic. As my father warned me before I left, something will most likely go wrong. My friends made me promise that when this happened, I did not interpret it as some sign from the universe telling me to go home and that I was not meant to be here. Well I am happy to say, even when things went belly up,
"I spent twelve hours at Manchester Royal Infirmary with what was a pulmonary embolism, which is basically a blood clot in your lung. Even though the blood thinners meant I couldn’t get matching exchange tattoos with my friends, I managed to handle it on my own and move on."
and move on. My advice for when something goes wrong is to take a breath, call who you need to talk to, whether it be your friends or family, and move on. At the very least it will be a funny story to tell when you get back.
Do not rely on your semester accommodation as being your source of friends. I had six roommates while I lived in Riverside House for three months, and I only knew the name of two. Depending on where you stay, you may find that staying overseas is very overwhelming and that people just want to keep to themselves at home. I know it sounds terrifying, but you are going to have to put yourself out there. When in doubt, play the exchange student card and ask your classmates for help on finding a building or navigating the university website, people are generally always willing to help and are fascinated by Australian accents. So I hope that these simple tips guide you through your exchange experience and make it as memorable as it can be. Ultimately, remember to enjoy it while you can, as while it may seem like ages, time flies, and before you know it, you’ll be back home telling everyone how ‘you found yourself abroad’. Emma is a fifth year Commerce/Law student who enjoys reading and surfing in her spare time.
I did not break this promise. I spent twelve hours at Manchester Royal Infirmary with what was a pulmonary embolism, which is basically a blood clot in your lung. Even though the blood thinners meant I couldn’t get matching exchange tattoos with my friends, I managed to handle it on my own
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THE FIRST, BUT NOT THE LAST BY BEN HALL From the moment I applied, I was adamant I would not be accepted, I was sitting in my roomone afternoon when I received an email from Stockholm University titled ‘Letter ofAcceptance’. At that moment my heart dropped...I was going. Fast forward 3 months, and Iwas at the airport, not knowing what was awaiting me or who would be there, other than one friend from Deakin University who I had arranged to share accommodation with. I sat there on the jetwhen the first thing fell into place, an unknown male sat next to me, in a jet full of almost 800people, he said “you don’t go to Deakin do you?” That was the first friend I made and I hadnot even left Melbourne.
Landing in Stockholm was a shock to the core, leaving the start of summer in Melbourne to 1-2 degrees in European winter hit me hard, but not as hard as
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it was to get used to 6 hoursof daylight. After the acclimatisation set in, and the introduction phase was complete, thestudy began. I chose to complete this unit as the Law School currently do not have an active course in International Criminal Law (‘ICL’) and I always had the intention of engaging in ‘crossinstitutional study’, however I chose to take the most abstract approach to that idea… ’international-institutional study’ I’d call it. The class I was undertaking had a plethora of nationalities enrolled in it, ranging from Italian, Swedish and French, to Peruvian, Chinese and us: ’the Aussies’, who to everyone elsewere just known as the ‘group that had to fly 20+ hours to even get to Sweden. All I can sayabout the educational side of this experience is that it was incredible and definitelyinnovative. The content we delved deep into was like nothing I have ever completed, learningabout crimes on an international perspective such as genocide, war crimes, crimes ofaggression and crimes against humanity. The content relied heavily upon The Rome Statuteof the International Criminal Court 1998. Following this, the content took a turn which focusedon the administrative side, consisting of the vastly different courts and tribunals which existin the ICL world as well as a range of fundamental principles which are not found in anyother area of law that exists.
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To divert, I also took two mini trips whilst I had two long weekend study breaks, these were twoof the best things I have done in my life and the reason why EVERYONE should engage in astudy abroad initiative. The first, snowboarding and partying at a music festival at the SwissAlps in Verbier, Switzerland. The second, Venturing to Tromsø, Norway to dog sledapproximately 50kms in an effort to see the Northern Lights, I can say both experiences werebig ticks on the ‘bucket list’. However they came at a cost, having to withstand temperaturesof -19 degrees whilst camping in a floorless tent in a location classified as being in the Arctic circle. Back to the ‘study’, the topical content listed above is where the ‘incredible’ stopped andthe innovation begun. The assessment breakdown of this subject is where StockholmUniversity showed a true passion for understanding that practical learning is the way of the future. There was the stock standard essay, but more than this, 40% of the unit was a series of submissions and motions in the format of the International Criminal Court, which were marked inthe lead up to a moot trial, where the class was split into a range of teams constituting theprosecution, two teams of defence for co-accused’s and most importantly, and also what Iwas selected as: the panel of five Judges. This experience was invaluable and to have itcount towards your grade meant there was added pressure to engage and show youradvocacy skills off. Last but not least, the dreaded exam. This was an interestingprocess whereby part of the exam was multiple choice and
the other part, short answer, allcompleted in open-book format under a timed period on university computers (and for added difficulty, with Swedish keyboards). This brought the short-term study tour of 7 weeks to an end with many goodbyes. It felt like Ihad finished University and would never be back. Luckily for me, I jetted off to the UnitedStates for a 3-week period to enjoy Christmas in Boston and New Years in the ‘Big Apple’(New York City). Once completing the short stint over in the USA, I returned for a 2-weeksnowboarding trip. I headed back past Stockholm University to pick up my snowboard whilsten-route to Åre Ski Resort, saying goodbye to all my friends and University staff one lasttime. After enjoying the European powder, I arrived home approximately three months aftersitting next to that Deakin student. All I can say is it may be the first, but it will definitely not be the last. Ben is currently studying both Law/Criminlogy at Deakin University and has an avid interest in law of an international perspective. Outside of law, he finds himself immersed in sport, this is where he represets the University as a Sports Ambassador and as the Deakin University Sport Captain.
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WANT TO STAY BY JESSICA BARKER In August of 2017 I embarked on my study abroad experience in Verona, Italy. I chose Verona so that I could learn Italian – order coffee, make Italian friends and truly immerse myself in the culture. However, what I didn’t realise when choosing my study abroad was that I was doing the course through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC); an American organisation that facilitates exchange experiences for American college students. This meant that my cultural experience quickly turned into a flashback of high school, with 39 Californian college students in a private class and no ability to meet local Italians. Needless to say, even though I learnt quite a bit about life and who I was as a person while in Verona, I still wanted a better experience abroad, and I did what I could to find one.
only could only see each other sporadically while I was studying in Verona, we knew how much we wanted to stay together. We started looking at other options, tossing around the idea of me staying in Europe, and even though I’d always firmly believed that you shouldn’t change your life for a boy, I decided to stay in Europe.
"I started university with an ‘itch’, a want to travel and enjoy my 20’s, but also a need to get my Law degree and be successful. I never dreamed I would be able to do both."
Fortunately, Deakin offers one of the most comprehensive and flexible online study options in Australia. I booked a one-way Prior to my study abroad, during the summer ticket from Italy to a small French ski village, of 2017 I met Alex, a French winemaker called Châtel, on the border of Switzerland who was doing a stint at the winery in the and got a job working nights in a bar Yarra Valley that I worked at. When he had where ‘every 15 minutes was shot o’clock’. to return to France, we managed a 6-month long-distance relationship before I was able Though I was concerned about studying to flee Australia for Europe. Though we alone, I was also excited for the prospect 36
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I rewarded myself between semesters by travelling to London, Norway and Morocco. I sat my exams in Zurich where Deakin had sent my exam paper, arriving at the university to find a cheerful exam supervisor, a room to myself and a massive desk to spread my notes across. The experience was so easy and so calming. Consequently, after finishing at 11am I celebrated with a pint of cider and spent the rest of the day exploring Zurich. of continuing my education while also being somewhere interesting and beautiful. I worked enough hours in the night to support myself and I studied hard during the day. I was able to set up my laptop on my dining table, watch the snow fall, and read about the complexities of property, corporate and land law for hours on end. Cloud campus has everything you need, from online tutorials, to online mentors, to discussion boards specifically designed for cloud collaboration.
I have always had the travel bug, travelling to many countries during high school and spending my gap year in Canada, America and Europe. I started university with an ‘itch’, a want to travel and enjoy my 20’s, but also a need to get my Law degree and be successful. I never dreamed I would be able to do both.
I was blessed to have a beautiful group of university friends who always replied to my panicked messages, who facetimed me at odd hours to do a group assignment and a fantastic university who helped me every step of the Don’t get me wrong, trying to ask for your way. I could not recommend Deakin, or online stationary and to bind your notes in a small study to anyone more. I spent a total of 14 mountain village where they don’t speak months away and I wouldn’t change it for the English, as well as connecting to the scarce world. If that ‘itch’ is a feeling that is familiar and expensive internet on the mountain was to you, then fill in that campus transfer form difficult. I missed my study sessions with and buy a one-way ticket to any country my friends at Deakin, the assistance from that speaks to you. It will change your life! meeting teachers or being able to attend a Jess is a travel enthusiast and Arts/Law student. In her lecture in person. The reward? I was able spare time, she has a minor addiction to cheese and to go skiing, snowboarding, hiking and watching funny cat videos. mountain bike riding in the French Alps! I was able to travel to numerous countries, go to concerts in the middle of the ski slopes and go to parties in mountain chalets, all after finishing my study for the day. I submitted assignments from the Spanish Canary Islands, from Slovenia and from Paris. I listened to lectures from Ireland and Switzerland and 37
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LETTER TO MY FIRST YEAR SELF: IT WILL BE OKAY. BY MADDISON SIDERIS Dear First Year Self: Welcome to university. Yes, it will be stressful. Yes, there will be tears. But it will also be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. I know orientation has left you upset, distressed and thinking you are not cut out for this life. But I promise you it is all going to be okay… University is so much more than just studying. There are so many opportunities to further your learning, make connections and meet new people. I know it all seems scary because you haven’t made any friends yet, but it’s all about putting yourself out there. One of the best decisions you will make is signing up for the Mentor Program. Your mentor will be so lovely and answer all your questions (even the stupid ones) and show you where your classrooms are. She will meet with you regularly and help you feel like you belong. Just talking to someone will put you at ease, and the mentor program isn’t the only resource like this. Writing mentors in the library can help with those first assignment jitters, and librarians can help you with research. So instead of running out of every lecture to get home as quick as you can, spend some more time on campus. Give yourself the opportunity to make new friends and make the most of the support Deakin offers. I am so proud that you joined the Law Society; however, the point of joining a club is actually getting involved with their various social and academic events. For example, signing up for a competition. It could be first-year mooting or even mediation. I know you feel like it would be social suicide rocking up on your own, but these kinds of opportunities aren’t just about the social benefits! Competitions teach you valuable skills and they are great to have on your resume! And this is the perfect stepping stone and confidence booster so that you can embrace future opportunities! Please, please, please try out for the Deakin Devils! I know as soon as you saw them at orientation that you wanted to be one of them! Just one try out isn’t going to hurt! At the very least, you will meet some new people and learn a few cool moves!
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"Give yourself the opportunity to make new friends and make the most of the support Deakin offers."
Also a word of advice, I know you thought your contract law assignment was doable in one night...and yes it was. But for future reference, I strongly advise never leaving another assignment to the night before. The stress and the tears are just not worth it; you will learn this over time. Through trial and error, you will find the techniques and strategies that suit you best. You will soon realise University is not like high school, you are now a little fish in a big pond, and you will no longer be top of the class. But that’s okay.
If you want to do well, you will do well. Dedicate yourself. Go to class. Ask questions. And finally, here is the most crucial bit of advice I’d like to give you. In your very first contract law lecture; you are going to be so brave, you are going to sit next to a girl. You'll be so proud of yourself because you’re going to introduce yourself and make some small talk. However, in the break, this girl is going to turn her back completely to you and ignore you for the rest of the lecture. This is going to break your heart, and you’re not going to want to bother trying to talk to anyone else for the rest of the trimester. Please don’t be disheartened. As painful as it is to be rejected, we can’t always get along with everyone. Don’t let this one person dictate your entire University experience. Be resilient. Sit next to someone else tomorrow. Smile. Make an effort. And I guarantee the next person will not do what that girl did. Be brave. It’s going to be okay. Maddison is an Arts/Law student and expert stresshead. In her spare time she loves sleeping, reading and listening to live music.
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HEARSAY "I'd lose my head if it wasn't on my shoulders"
As stressful as Law School can be, the halls of the library and group chats can be fertile grounds for comedy, or irony. You never know who may be listening on. Here is a choice selection of quotes overheard throughout the course of T1. We hope you have a laugh at us and with us. And don't worry we won't hold it against you - it's all hearsay.
"Guys how do you find a case?" - 5th year law honours student, Senior Moot Semi Finalist & Negotiation Champion
“I wanna do well this semester. I usually don’t study, watch me study this semester.“ - Day 1, T1
“Have you read the assignment question yet?” “Of course! I went through it last night” “I haven’t even LOOKED at it yet”
“Oh… yeah me either”
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"Sometimes I forget to breathe, it's no big deal"
"They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, unfortunately I only have limes" “Lemons are actually man made hybrids of a citron and an orange. Life cannot give you lemons, we can only make lemons of what life gives us”
“Do you think it’s a fixture or a shattle?”
“The Admin assignment is like Riverdale.”
“What’s Riverdale, is that a politician?
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DLSS May 2019