Storey & Ward ~ Lawyers. Mediators. Consultants.

A year on from the National Sea Country Alliance Summit in Darwin 👉🏽 👉🏽 👉🏽 This time last year, Storey & Ward Lawyers were providing policy advice at the National Sea Country Alliance Summit in Darwin. The landmark meeting of all representative Traditional Owner groups with responsibility for Sea Country was convened to discuss how to exercise rights and uphold responsibilities for Sea Country in the face of increased offshore energy proposals. Darwin was the perfect place to talk about sea country and we were lucky to see in the first rain of the season. And let's face it — we'll take any opportunity to visit the unique Northern Territory! Learn more about the National Sea Country Alliance Summit here: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

Interested in learning more about Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) law? 👉🏽 The don't miss the upcoming 2024 Francis Gurry Lecture on Intellectual Property to be delivered in both Sydney & Melbourne by leading international ICIP authority, Terri Janke 👏🏽👇🏽

Planning a trip to New Zealand or simply keen to dive deeper into Māori language and culture? 👉🏽 👉🏽 👉🏽 Whether you're visiting soon or just curious, the Te Papa Tongarewa website — also known as the Museum of New Zealand — offers a fantastic resource to get you started! Explore the te reo Māori glossary available on their site, and while you're there, you can also access the comprehensive Māori Dictionary to help expand your understanding and appreciation of te reo Māori. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Aotearoa! 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 #MāoriCulture #teReoMāori #TePapaTongarewa #CulturalHeritage #LearnMāori #NewZealandCulture

📢📢📢 Upcoming Training Seminar: Native Title & Indigenous Cultural Heritage Law, Wednesday 13 November 2024 📢📢📢 Are you looking to deepen your understanding of Native Title and Indigenous Cultural Heritage Law? 👉🏽 👉🏽 👉🏽 Storey & Ward Lawyers are offering an all-day, in-depth training seminar designed specifically for professionals working in heritage advisory, planning, environmental regulation, or community policy. This seminar covers essential topics like native title theory, the future acts regime, and the complex legal frameworks surrounding Indigenous cultural heritage in Australia. Beyond legal theory, you'll have the chance to hear directly from experts and engage in meaningful discussions on how these laws impact rights and responsibilities to culture and Country. An opportunity to engage with senior Traditional Owner Liz Allen will offer a real-world insight into the challenges Indigenous communities face today. Why Attend? ➡️ 💡Gain practical knowledge to apply in your work 💡Ideal for professionals in planning, environmental regulation, and community policy 💡Earn up to 6 CPD points (depending on your jurisdiction) If you’re ready to expand your expertise, connect with others in the field, and gain direct insights from a Traditional Owner, this seminar is an excellent opportunity. Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your understanding of one of Australia’s most significant legal and cultural frameworks. For more details, including how to register, check out the link below. 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 *Special rates apply for participants from Traditional Owner organisations, contact training@storeyward.com.au for more information. #NativeTitle #CulturalHeritage #ProfessionalDevelopment #LandRights #LegalTraining #CommunityEngagement

Do you need help developing effective policy to support Traditional Owner rights? 👉🏽 👉🏽 👉🏽 At Storey & Ward Lawyers, we specialise in providing expert support for Traditional Owner Corporations and organisations involved in policy development. Whether you’re aiming to shape government decisions or influence legislative reforms, our team has the experience and insight to guide you through the complexities of Indigenous cultural heritage and native title law. Our services go beyond legal advice. We work closely with clients to develop strategic, tailored policy that address the unique needs of Traditional Owners, helping you navigate the intricate processes of policy creation and implementation at both state and commonwealth levels. From advocacy to legislative reform, we ensure that your voice is heard and your rights are upheld. Storey & Ward Lawyers are committed to providing not only expert policy guidance but also practical solutions and consultation to help Traditional Owners advance their goals. Let us partner with you to ensure meaningful policy outcomes that support your community and culture. To learn more about how we can assist, contact us at info@storeyward.com.au or visit our website: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 #PolicyDevelopment #TraditionalOwnerRights #IndigenousAdvocacy #GovernmentReform #CulturalHeritage #LegislativeChange #LegalSupport #MelbourneLawyers

✨ 🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃 ✨ Today, we celebrate Halloween, a festival deeply rooted in Celtic traditions, especially the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain. Samhain was seen as the time when the veil between the world of the living and the dead was thinnest, allowing spirits to cross over. The Celts would light large bonfires, offer food to the spirits, and wear costumes to protect themselves from any wandering souls. This day signified the end of the harvest and the start of the darker half of the year. Over the centuries, these Celtic customs were incorporated into Christian observances, blending with the celebration of All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints' Day. Many of the Halloween traditions we know today, such as dressing up in costumes and carving pumpkins (originally turnips), are modern-day echoes of the past. Apple-bobbing, for instance, harks back to ancient divination practices, where it was believed that the first to bite the apple would be the next to marry. So, whether you’re embracing the spooky or indulging in a little mischief, remember that Halloween is more than just a fun night. It’s a nod to centuries of history, ancient beliefs, and the eternal human fascination with the supernatural. Enjoy the day with some Celtic-inspired magic, and may your night be filled with mystery and fun! 🎃 🐈⬛ 👻 🍎 ✨ #HalloweenHistory #CelticRoots #Samhain #Halloween #CelticTraditions #AllHallowsEve #AncientCustoms #CulturalHeritage

This month at Storey & Ward ~ Lawyers. Mediators. Consultants., we are celebrating women we admire in STEM 👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 Our Principal Legal Officer, Dr Matthew Storey, admires both actress & scientist Hedy Lamar, and his mum, Patricia Gladwell. Matthew says: "Most of us have heard of Hedy Lamarr, the famous American-Austrian actress who pioneered technology that became the foundation for modern WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth systems. While her intellect and innovation are extraordinary, Lamarr’s story also highlights the everyday sexist barriers she faced in her pursuit of science. Despite her wealth, Lamarr was often dismissed due to her gender, a common experience for women in male-dominated fields. Hedy Lamarr's story mirrors that of countless other women, including my mother, Patricia, one of the first women to study medicine in Victoria after World War II. Entering a male-dominated field of returning servicemen, Patricia faced constant reminders that her presence was seen as taking a place meant for a man. The subtle yet persistent discrimination came not only from male colleagues but also from senior female nursing staff who were unwelcoming towards the idea of women doctors outranking them. After graduation Patricia married (my father, a dental science academic), had a child, and worked as a doctor in a residential mental health facility. My father insisted she resign after one of the patients was found hanged in the garden shed of the resident medical officers’ quarters. He also insisted she resign from a position as a prison medical officer was relinquished after a prisoner attempted (unsuccessfully) to stab her. The point of course is not the wisdom of her husband’s view — but the fact that he was in a position to impose it on her. A subsequent ‘more suitable’ position as a pathologist, specialising in cytology lasted a number of years. In due course cytology was determined to warrant its own specialisation, separate from general pathology. The initial grant of specialist status was determined by a board of pathologists, and practice as a specialist warranted partner status. The board of pathologists that determined the initial designation of the new specialisation included many of Patricia’s employing partners. Patricia’s application was denied. The reason provided to her was not the financial implications of her promotion but rather that “as a married woman she may have to follow her academic husband overseas and so there was no point designating her as a specialist in Victoria”. Mum resigned the following week. Both Hedy Lamarr and Patricia's stories highlight the persistence of discrimination, not just through formal barriers but in everyday attitudes. Whether in science or medicine, women have long been subjected to systemic bias that limits their potential. Their stories serve as reminders that progress, while real, remains incomplete, and that these challenges persist in many forms today." Read about Hedy Lamar here 👇🏽

Last Saturday on 26 October, Storey & Ward ~ Lawyers. Mediators. Consultants. were thrilled to participate in the Australia ICOMOS - AICOMOS Symposium 2024. 👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 Chairing the panel presented by the National Scientific Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), our Principal Policy & Communications Consult, Alexandra Hill, spoke of the values of ICH to different communities and groups, noting that the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities must also be incorporated into protections and understandings of place. The Legal Principal & Director of Storey & Ward ~ Lawyers. Mediators. Consultants., Dr Matthew Storey, spoke about how ICH is an integral part of place based cultural heritage but that it is also a disrupted perspective on the integrated approach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to their cultural heritage. Joining us on the panel were Jamie Lowe, CEO of the National Native Title Council, Gareth Ogilvie, EO of the Bardi and Jawi Niimidiman PBC and Chris Johnston, founding member of the Committee and heritage consultant. Congratulations to all participants! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #ICOMOS2024 #AustraliaICOMOS #IntangibleCulturalHeritage #IndigenousCulturalHeritage #HeritageProtection #CulturalRights #NationalNativeTitleCouncil #PlaceBasedHeritage Australia ICOMOS - AICOMOS @jamielowe @garethogilvie

📢📢📢 Upcoming Training Seminar: Native Title & Indigenous Cultural Heritage Law, Wednesday 13 November 2024 📢📢📢 Are you looking to deepen your understanding of Native Title and Indigenous Cultural Heritage Law? 👉🏽 👉🏽 👉🏽 Storey & Ward Lawyers are offering an all-day, in-depth training seminar designed specifically for professionals working in heritage advisory, planning, environmental regulation, or community policy. This seminar covers essential topics like native title theory, the future acts regime, and the complex legal frameworks surrounding Indigenous cultural heritage in Australia. Beyond legal theory, you'll have the chance to hear directly from experts and engage in meaningful discussions on how these laws impact rights and responsibilities to culture and Country. An opportunity to engage with senior Traditional Owner Liz Allen will offer a real-world insight into the challenges Indigenous communities face today. Why Attend? 💡Gain practical knowledge to apply in your work 💡Ideal for professionals in planning, environmental regulation, and community policy 💡Earn up to 6 CPD points (depending on your jurisdiction) If you’re ready to expand your expertise, connect with others in the field, and gain direct insights from a Traditional Owner, this seminar is an excellent opportunity. Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your understanding of one of Australia’s most significant legal and cultural frameworks. For more details, including how to register, check out the link below. 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 *Special rates apply for participants from Traditional Owner organisations, contact training@storeyward.com.au for more information. #NativeTitle #CulturalHeritage #ProfessionalDevelopment #LandRights #LegalTraining #CommunityEngagement

Do you need help navigating the complex world of native title and land rights? 👉🏽 👉🏽 👉🏽 At Storey & Ward ~ Lawyers. Mediators. Consultants., our experienced team specialises in providing expert legal services to individuals, Traditional Owners, and organisations involved in native title determinations and statutory land rights. Whether you're seeking land justice outcomes, or navigating the intricate processes of native title, we have decades of experience to guide you. Our services extend beyond native title determinations, including Future Act applications and Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) negotiations. We have successfully represented clients in various courts and tribunals, from the National Native Title Tribunal to the High Court of Australia. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that the rights of Indigenous communities are upheld, providing both legal and strategic support throughout the process. At Storey & Ward Lawyers, we understand that the path to land justice can be long and challenging. That’s why we offer not just legal representation, but also practical solutions, mediation, and negotiation support tailored to meet the unique cultural and legal needs of each case. Let us partner with you to ensure fair outcomes and the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage for future generations. To learn more about how we can help, contact us at info@storeyward.com.au or check out our website: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 #NativeTitle #LandRights #ILUA #FutureAct #LandJustice #LegalRepresentation #CulturalHeritage #StatutoryRights #TraditionalOwners #SelfDetermination #IndigenousLandRights #MelbourneLawyers #LegalServices Matthew Storey