Sydney Law School’s research and teaching is enriched by contributions from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, legal practitioners, PhD researchers, and professional staff.

Professor Teela Reid, Associate Dean, Indigenous Strategy & Services

Wiradjuri, Wailwan

Professor Reid is an experienced senior solicitor, essayist, and storyteller, known for her work in Aboriginal Land Rights, Native Title, and cultural heritage law. She has a particular interest in exploring the intersection of the practice of western laws and Indigenous laws.

Jenavive Westbury, First Nations Practitioner-in-Residence

Wiradjuri

Jenavive Westbury has broad legal experience across the family, civil, and criminal jurisdictions, and is committed to challenging systemic injustice through both frontline representation and structural reform. Alongside her role at Sydney Law School, she is a criminal defence solicitor at Legal Aid NSW.

Danielle Captain-Webb, First Nations Practitioner-in-Residence

Wiradjuri, Gomeroi

Danielle Captain-Webb has a background in lore and law, criminology, Aboriginal land rights, social impact and systemic advocacy, and is deeply committed to advancing justice, Aboriginal affairs, and social change. Alongside her role at Sydney Law School, she serves as the Solicitor Advocate of the Coronial Inquest Unit, leading its statewide service.

In 2025 Sydney Law School is implementing a renewed curriculum, including a new course learning outcome called Ngara. A Gadi word from the language of the Sydney basin, Ngara means ‘listen, hear, think’ (Troy 1994, 74).

For the Ngara outcome, graduates are expected to reach:

‘An understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledges and perspectives, including the ongoing effects of colonisation, and an ability to reflect upon the cultural specificity of law.

Seven out of 17 compulsory units in the Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor programs are incorporating Ngara to date

• LAWS1025/5019 Ngura and the Foundations of Laws 
• LAWS1027/5022 Criminal Law, Process, and Research I
• LAWS1028/5023 Criminal Law, Process and Research II
• LAWS1029/5021 Lawyers, Justice and Ethics
• LAWS1021/5007 Public Law and Statutory Interpretation
• LAWS2017/5012 Land Law
• LAWS1023/5005 Public International Law      

Within the Education Committee, the Ngara initiative is led by Dr Fady Aoun, Dr Louise Boon-Kuo, and Louisa Di Bartolomeo.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students play a valued role in the Law School’s community.

Current Sydney Law School students have access to supports including:

• Reaching out to our friendly Academic Advisors to Indigenous Students in Law, Dr Bashi Kumar-Hazard and Dr Fady Aoun.
• The Gadigal Centre, which provides academic, wellbeing and cultural support services to Indigenous students at the University of Sydney.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students wishing to study Law at Sydney should consider applying under the Gadigal Program The Gadigal Program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to gain entry into the University on a reduced ATAR,  offers academic support before and during your studies, the ability to apply for an early offer and an exchange scholarship.

The Gadigal Program will continue to work for you If you do not achieve or have an ATAR for entry into Law but commence studies at the University. The Law School will consider you again after 1 year of tertiary study in another degree for internal transfer into the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or at the completion of another degree for entry into the Juris Doctor (JD)

The Law School offers the Judge Ralph J Perdriau First Nations Scholarship for the Bachelor of Laws and the Judge Ralph J Perdriau First Nations Scholarship for the Juris Doctor as well as a range of other scholarships specific to law

Not sure that University is right for you? The University offers a range of on-campus programs to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students prepare for university so that you can experience university, meet current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, receive exam support and prepare for life after high school. Find out more here or get in touch

Contact the University’s Indigenous recruitment team for more information indigenous.recruitment@sydney.edu.au or Mobile 0435 404 974. 

You can find full information here on all the University’s Admissions Pathways including the My Sydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme and the Regional and Remote Entry Scheme 

The Wingarra Djuraliyin (‘growth in thinking’) lecture has been a highlight of Sydney Law School’s annual events calendar since 2021.

Aimed at amplifying Indigenous expertise and knowledge in legal thinking, this public lecture connects the School with Indigenous peoples within Australia and beyond.

This year’s Wingarra Djuraliyin lecture, to be held on 18 September 2025, will feature UTS Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO in conversation with Sydney Law School Professor Teela Reid.

You can register for the event here.

Past Wingarra Djuraliyin lectures are available for viewing at the links below.

• Dr Nicole Watson on ‘Indigenous Women, Outlaw Culture and the Law’ (2021)
• Dr Anne Poelina and Marlikka Perdrisat on ‘First Law: A Climate Chance’ (2022)
• Dr Eddie Cubillo on ‘One more broken silence: an Indigenous academic encounters racism’ (2023)
• Professor Val Napoleon on ‘Critical Legal Juxtapositions: Practice and Decision-Making’ (2024)