John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship
The John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship is designed to enhance the potential and assist an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student to enter the legal profession. It is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in an approved course of study provided by an Australian tertiary institute, which is a prerequisite to admission as a legal practitioner in any Australian jurisdiction.
The Scholarship is only available to penultimate (law students in their second last year) or final year law students in the year that the Scholarship is awarded.
John Koowarta Scholarship 2025 round
The 2025 round for the John Koowarta Scholarship is now closed.
Contact
If you have any queries about the Scholarship or would like to be notified when the next round opens, please send an email to koowarta@lawcouncil.au.
Previous winners
The 2025 John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship was awarded to Queensland University of Technology student and proud Wiradjuri woman, Christine Conn.
Ms Conn is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting). When she completes her studies, she intends to practice as a criminal lawyer.
Law Council of Australia President, Mr Greg McIntyre SC, presented the Scholarship to the Ms Conn at the Law Council of Australia’s Gala Dinner on Friday, 29 November 2024.
You can read the Law Council's media release here.
The Law Council had the opportunity to interview Ms Conn. You can read the interview here.
The Law Council of Australia’s 2024 John Koowarta Scholarship has been awarded to University of New South Wales law student, Mr Corey Blyth.
Mr Blyth is a proud Wiradjuri man and is currently in the fourth year of a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice/Law at the University of NSW, Sydney.
During his studies Mr Blyth has attained outstanding grades and has worked as a legal intern, most recently at the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Additionally, Mr Blyth has been a research assistant, working on social policy projects, tutoring fellow and prospective Indigenous law students at UNSW and volunteering within his local community.
Law Council of Australia President, Mr Luke Murphy, presented the Scholarship to the Mr Blyth at the Law Council of Australia’s Gala Dinner on Friday, 1 December 2023.
You can read the Law Council's media release here.
The Law Council had the opportunity to interview Mr Blyth. You can read the interview here.
- Terri Janke (1995)
- Nathan Jarro and Gina Masterton (1996)
- Jason Briggs (1997)
- June Kenny (1999)
- Matthew Karakoulakis (1998)
- Tammy Williams (2000)
- Leanne Liddle (2001)
- Terrence Stedman (2001)
- Corina Martin (2003)
- Bruce Rudeforth and Stephanie Bott (2007)
- Rebecca Martin, Peta MacGillivray and Hannah Dawson (2009)
- Merinda Dutton and Krista McMeeken (2010)
- Aurora Milroy and Ashley Walker (2011)
- Peter Dawson, Melinda Mitchell and Danielle Davis (2012)
- Corey Smith (2013)
- Samara Hand and Laura Vincent (2014)
- Alison Boland and Tamara Kenny (2015)
- Mikaela French (2016)
- Tayla Anderson (2017)
- Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts (2018)
- Noah Bedford (2019)
- Sophie Coffin (2020)
- Cameron Downey and Michelle Burchill (2022)
- Sharleigh Crittenden (2023)
Background on the Scholarship
The John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship Trust was established by the Law Council of Australia in 1994. The Scholarship commemorates John Koowarta, a member of the Winychanam community at Aurukun and a traditional owner of the Archer River region on Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Mr Koowarta challenged the Queensland Government under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) after its decision to prevent the Aboriginal Land Fund from acquiring a crown lease on a pastoral property for the Winychanam people. The decision by the Bjelke-Peterson Government was based on cabinet policy at the time, which opposed ownership of large tracts of land by Aboriginal peoples. The Queensland Government challenged the validity of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) in the High Court and was defeated. The High Court’s decision was later pivotal in the recognition of native title in Mabo v Queensland (No.2).
Mr Koowarta was described by Robert Tickner, the former Commonwealth Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (1991-96), as “an Australian hero who was a courageous fighter against Governments which discriminate against people on the basis of race.” John Koowarta died in 1991 without fulfilling his dream of seeing his traditional lands returned.
Last Updated on 25/10/2024