Leadership Update: Thank You Wynetta, Welcome Thelma
The Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS) acknowledges and sincerely thanks Wynetta Dewis, who concluded her tenure as Chief Executive Officer on 16 October 2026.
Wynetta has been an important part of QIFVLS since joining the organisation in 2011 and being appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2018. Over many years, she has made a significant contribution to the growth, development and direction of the organisation.
During Wynetta’s leadership, QIFVLS strengthened and expanded its presence across Queensland, increased the reach of its services, and secured increased base funding to support our important work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.
Wynetta has also been a strong advocate for the communities QIFVLS serves and has built important relationships with communities, stakeholders, government agencies and partner organisations across Queensland.
The QIFVLS Board of Directors extends its sincere appreciation to Wynetta for her many years of dedicated service, leadership and advocacy. Her contribution has helped shape QIFVLS into the organisation it is today, and we wish her every success as she begins the next chapter of her journey.
Welcoming Thelma Schwartz as Interim CEO
The Board is also pleased to announce the appointment of Thelma Schwartz as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Thelma has provided strong and steady leadership to QIFVLS over the past six months and brings considerable knowledge of the organisation, our services and the communities we serve.
Supported by the Executive Leadership Team, Thelma will continue to lead QIFVLS while the Board undertakes a comprehensive recruitment process to appoint our next Chief Executive Officer.
Throughout this transition, QIFVLS remains focused on our purpose and our commitment to providing culturally safe, accessible and high-quality legal and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities across Queensland.
The Board is committed to ensuring a stable and well-supported leadership transition and will keep our staff, communities, partners and stakeholders informed as the recruitment process progresses.
Our services continue as normal, and our commitment to the communities we serve remains unchanged.
National Child Protection Week took place in early September, providing an important opportunity to raise awareness about child safety and wellbeing, and to recognise the role that community organisations play in supporting families.
The Cairns office and Outreach team delivered an unmissable presence with their marquee at Ravizza Park in Edmonton, south of the city. Plain white bucket hats were given away which children were invited to decorate using the fabric markers supplied.
Throughout the week, events across Queensland reinforced the significance of collective action in promoting the rights, safety and wellbeing of children. QIFVLS remains committed to supporting families and working alongside community organisations to strengthen protective environments for children.
As part of Child Protection Week, our Brisbane Legal and Outreach team attended the Children’s Fun Day in Richlands, where families engaged in a wide range of activities from jumping castles and petting zoos to sensory and messy play, art and craft, live entertainment and information sharing with local services.
Much of QIFVLS’ recent policy work has focused on ensuring that the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and families are reflected in government decision-making. Acting CEO Thelma Schwartz, Acting Executive Director Legal Aaron Luki and Acting Director Legal Practice Kulumba Kiyingi have been particularly busy advocating on behalf of our communities, representing QIFVLS before parliamentary committees and various consultations, to ensure that the voices and experiences of the people we support are heard at the highest levels of government. It’s been wonderful to see their expertise, leadership and unwavering commitment to our communities reflected in this important advocacy work.
Some of the key areas we’ve been working on include:
- Domestic and family violence reform: Providing submissions on the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children and the First Action Plan for Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence 2026–2036, advocating for stronger recognition of the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled legal services, culturally safe responses and improved accountability.
- Child protection: QIFVLS played an active role in Queensland’s Child Safety Commission of Inquiry, providing evidence informed by our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Following the release of the Inquiry’s Final Report and the Queensland Government’s response, QIFVLS welcomes the commitment to systemic reform and stronger oversight of the child protection system, while continuing to advocate for meaningful self-determination, culturally safe practice and measures to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.
As part of these reforms, the Queensland Government has introduced legislation to establish the Queensland Protection Commission. QIFVLS provided a submission on the proposed legislation, emphasising the importance of genuine independence, effective accountability and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are embedded in the Commission’s governance and oversight functions.
- Justice and legislative reform: Responding to proposed changes to Queensland’s justice laws, including Breach Bail Go to Jail, Strengthening Victims’ Rights and Circuit Breaker with a particular focus on their potential impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the importance of ensuring victim-survivor safety.
Thelma Schwartz and Kulumba Kiyingi appeared before the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee in Cairns on 22 September 2026 for the Breach Bail Go to Jail amendments, where QIFVLS emphasised that tougher penalties alone do not guarantee safer communities, calling for greater investment in early intervention, culturally safe responses and measures that address the underlying causes of offending, while cautioning against reforms that risk further entrenching the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in detention.
- Racism: On 28 July 2026, Thelma Schwartz and Aaron Luki appeared before the Commonwealth Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for its inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. QIFVLS highlighted how systemic and institutional racism compounds the impacts of domestic, family and sexual violence, creating additional barriers to safety, legal protection and justice for victim-survivors. QIFVLS emphasised that racism is a cumulative and systemic issue that influences whether victim-survivors feel safe seeking assistance, are believed and receive appropriate protection. QIFVLS called for stronger government accountability and meaningful implementation of existing recommendations, emphasising the need to move beyond repeated inquiries towards coordinated, practical action to address racism and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
A consistent theme across this work has been the importance of translating commitments to self-determination and culturally safe service delivery into meaningful changes in legislation, policy and practice.
Looking ahead, our priorities for the remainder of 2026 include the Productivity Commission’s second review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the review of Queensland’s human rights and anti-discrimination legislation.
Importantly, our policy work continues to be informed by the experiences of our frontline teams and the communities we work alongside. Following our recent trip to Mount Isa for Yarn Up, for example, we were able to draw on those discussions to highlight Nash’s critical role in the Mount Isa community in our Our Ways submission. It’s a great example of how the experiences and expertise of our staff and communities directly inform our advocacy at a national level.
Our NO2DV Family Day at Centennial Place in Mount Isa was a huge success and a highlight of our community engagement work in September. Thank you to everyone who came along, shared the day with us and helped create such a strong sense of community.
A big thank you to all the organisations who joined us, set up stalls, ran activities and supported families throughout the event. Your presence made the day meaningful and welcoming for everyone.
We also want to thank the Sundowners Kalkutungu Dancers for an amazing performance and for hosting a traditional children’s dance workshop in the park. Their cultural leadership and generosity created a special experience for families and young people.
Thank you to Council Member John Doyle for taking the time to speak about domestic violence and for sharing his story with the community. We appreciate his honesty and commitment to raising awareness.
A huge thank you as well to Outback at Isa Cafe for putting on some great food and helping us create a welcoming space to feed families throughout the day.
We loved seeing families connect, kids getting involved in activities and community members spending time together in a safe and supportive space. Here are some moments from the day!
QIFVLS is proud to announce our Early Career Pathways (ECP) Program – an initiative to support emerging legal professionals to develop practical skills, professional confidence and strong foundations for community legal practice.
The ECP Program is designed to support Students and Graduate Lawyers at the beginning of their legal careers. The program develops culturally safe, trauma-informed and skilled future practitioners. Participants will gain insight into community legal practice and build the foundations for a successful legal career, while being mentored by passionate legal staff.
Program benefits:
• Build practical legal experience, skills and knowledge while contributing to meaningful work that supports vulnerable communities.
• Develop trauma-informed and culturally safe practices that can strengthen your legal career from the beginning.
• Receive close support and mentoring from experienced, passionate legal staff in a community legal setting.
• Deepen your understanding of family and domestic violence, and legal issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons.
Which stream is right?
The ECP program has three streams, subject to the stage of applicant’s career.
Stream 1
Volunteer Student
University students completing their Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor; and high school students may apply to complete a vocational placement
with QIFVLS.
This is an unpaid placement within QIFVLS, aimed at providing supported practical experience in a legal setting.
The stream provides students with an opportunity to gain practical experience, explore community legal work and develop your professional skills while completing their studies.
Stream 2
PLT Student
Students completing their Practical Legal Training (PLT) and law graduates due to commence their PLT program, may apply to complete their placement with QIFVLS.
The PLT Student stream supports students completing their practical legal training through supervised experience in a community legal setting.
This is an unpaid placement within QIFVLS aimed to provide students with practical experience, support and mentoring and purposeful work, while completing mandatory work experience.
Stream 3
Graduate Lawyer
Early career Lawyers who have not been admitted or have been recently admitted, may apply to work as a Graduate Lawyer with QIFVLS.
The Graduate Lawyer stream includes a structured two-year paid Graduate Program, aimed at developing legal skills and knowledge, while contributing to improving access to justice for vulnerable members of the community.
The two-year program involves rotations through different practice areas, allowing the Graduate Lawyer to build on their existing skills and be appropriately prepared for the next stage in their career.
OCM: Thanks for sharing your story Nubayesha. Where were you born and raised?
Nubayesha: I was born in Fiji in 2000, but my family moved to Australia when I was just two years old, so I’ve really grown up here. I’ve lived in Brisbane pretty much my whole life, mainly around the south side before moving to the north side when I was in high school.
My background is Fijian Indian. Both my parents were born and raised in Fiji, as were my grandparents, and we’ve got family scattered across Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji.
I grew up living with my grandparents, so family has always been a big part of my life.
OCM: What brought your parents to Australia?
Nubayesha: My dad came over on a trade visa. My parents wanted better work opportunities, a better life and, importantly, better education for their children.
I’m the eldest, and I’ve got a younger brother who’s now 23. Education was always a really big thing in our family. My parents have always pushed us to do well academically and make the most of the opportunities we have here.
OCM: Do you still feel a strong connection to Fiji?
Nubayesha: Definitely! Whenever I go back, I always feel at home. I’ve still got lots of cousins there on my dad’s side, and my mum has opened two skincare businesses in Fiji.
She’s been a skin therapist in Australia for almost 20 years, and I actually managed her businesses from when I was about 18 until quite recently.
I used to travel back to Fiji a lot when I was managing the clinic, but these days I try to get back at least once a year.
OCM: What were you like at school? Were you more academically inclined or interested in sport?
Nubayesha: I was very academic, although I would have loved to be sporty! I actually wanted to be a rugby player, but my parents were very much against contact sports. They were always worried I’d get injured, so it was more about concentrating on my studies.
I always got good grades, particularly in subjects like maths and physics, and I was school captain in Year 12. And I loved the leadership side of school, being involved in student council and things like that.
OCM: Did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to do after school?
Nubayesha: I actually started researching careers when I was about ten years old! I’ve always been interested in the legal and justice side of things. When I was little, I wanted to become a criminal lawyer or a prosecutor. I was very determined about it.
OCM: What sparked that interest at such a young age?
Nubayesha: I think it came from watching the news and listening to conversations my grandparents would have about what was happening in the world.
That really drove my interest in criminology and criminal justice. As I got older, I became more interested in the research and policy side rather than necessarily becoming a practising lawyer.
OCM: So where did that take you academically?
Nubayesha: I went to the University of Queensland and completed two degrees. My first was a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in criminology, and my second was a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
And now I’m studying again! I’m currently doing my Juris Doctor, which is a postgraduate law degree. It’s another four years of study, but I’m really enjoying it. I’m particularly interested in moving into legal policy work eventually.
I’ve actually been talking to Ebony-Lee, our Policy Officer, about what she does, and she’s been really encouraging. It’s exciting to learn more about that side of the organisation.
OCM: Before joining QIFVLS, you’d spent quite a few years working in your family’s business?
Nubayesha: Yes, about eight years altogether. I was managing my mum’s businesses, which was a really valuable experience.
After that, I worked briefly for a construction company during the Cyclone Alfred period. It was originally a temporary administration role, and they wanted me to stay longer. But my manager was really supportive of me pursuing something that related more closely to my university qualifications. He encouraged me to apply for positions in the legal sector, which eventually led me to QIFVLS.
OCM: Tell us a little about your role at QIFVLS.
Nubayesha: I work closely with Mandy Tedeschi, QIFVLS’ Senior Data Administration Officer, on reporting side of the organisation.
A lot of my work involves processing the intake forms, referrals, service delivery information and project reports that come through from our lawyers, paralegals, case management and outreach teams.
We make sure all that information is accurately recorded in our systems and spreadsheets so reports can be generated for our funders and the Board. It helps demonstrate the work QIFVLS is doing, how we’re progressing against our KPIs and the services we’re delivering across communities.
It’s very detailed work, and you have to be precise. Sometimes it can be repetitive, so you really need to double-check, triple-check and sometimes quadruple-check everything! But I enjoy that analytical side of things. I like being organised and knowing that the information we’re producing is accurate.
OCM: You’ve mentioned your interest in policy. Is there a particular area of social justice you’d like to contribute to?
Nubayesha: Youth crime prevention is something I’m really passionate about.
I’d love to be involved in developing policies and initiatives that help reduce youth offending and make communities safer. That’s something I’ve been interested in throughout my university studies.
One thing I’ve really noticed since working at QIFVLS is how much safety and reassurance we provide for the community. People trust our lawyers and the services we deliver.
Even though Mandy and I work more behind the scenes, we still hear about and see the impact of that work.
I’d love to eventually be more involved in the bigger picture, helping develop policies and improve the resources available to communities.
OCM: What do you particularly enjoy about working at QIFVLS?
Nubayesha: Honestly, it’s the people! We do very serious work here, but everyone is so positive. There are always big smiles, good conversations and plenty of laughter. The Brisbane office has such a positive, upbeat atmosphere. Even on quieter days, there’s always somebody around to have a chat with.
I don’t sit directly within the legal or case management teams, but I’ve never felt like an outsider. I’ve developed really good relationships with people across the office, and everyone is very inclusive.
OCM: And I understand Wednesdays are a particularly important day in the Brisbane office?
Nubayesha: Absolutely! Wednesday is my favourite day because of the food markets across the road! I love being in the city, getting a coffee, going for a walk and enjoying everything around the office. I’m a big coffee drinker, so Brisbane City is perfect for me.
OCM: I hear that you’ve also got some exciting news in your personal life and that congratulations are in order!
Nubayesha: Thank you! Yes, I got engaged a couple of weeks ago. My fiancé’s name is Hamish, and although we’ve been together for almost two years, I’ve actually known him since I was nine years old. We were childhood friends, then life took us in different directions. We reconnected a couple of years ago, hit it off, and he eventually moved over from New Zealand to Australia.
He’s a barber and works at a boutique barbershop in Newstead. He’s incredibly passionate about what he does and is really good at it – and I’m not just saying that because I’m biased!
OCM: So how did he propose? Was it the traditional down-on-one-knee moment?
Nubayesha: Yes, it was! He took me to one of my favourite spots and started saying he wanted to take some nice photos of me. He was being very particular about where I should stand, and I started thinking something was a little suspicious. Then I noticed a woman lurking around nearby, who turned out to be the photographer he’d organised! He got down on one knee, held my hand and even included a little line from Game of Thrones, because he knows I’m a huge fan. It was such a beautiful surprise. I had a feeling something might be happening, but I still wasn’t expecting it.
OCM: Have you started planning the wedding?
Nubayesha: Yes! We’re hoping for the end of 2027, although we’re still deciding on the location. I’d love a hinterland wedding, maybe somewhere around Maleny on the Sunshine Coast, but we’re also considering Queenstown in New Zealand. One thing I definitely know is that I want a winter wedding. I don’t want to be dying in the heat!
OCM: And looking a little further ahead, what does the future hold for you both?
Nubayesha: Hamish would love to open his own boutique barber studio. He’s actually been inspired by my mum’s skincare businesses and wants to incorporate men’s skincare treatments into his services.
For me, it’s about continuing my studies and developing my career in the legal and policy space.
Hopefully, somewhere along the way, we’ll get married, maybe start a family and continue building our life together. There’s a lot happening, but it’s all very exciting.
OCM: Finally, is there anything you’d particularly like your QIFVLS colleagues to know about you?
Nubayesha: I think it’s just how much I appreciate the relationships I’ve made here. Working with my mum for eight years was wonderful, but joining QIFVLS has given me the opportunity to build connections with so many different people. I genuinely look forward to coming to work and seeing everyone. Those friendships and relationships are something I’ll always cherish, wherever my career takes me.
Are you in search of a rewarding profession that will take you on journeys through the breathtaking landscapes of Queensland? One that promises not only career advancement and skill enhancement, but also attractive perks, substantial travel allowances, and one-of-a-kind professional adventures? Are you drawn to a career that enables you to make a positive difference in the lives of others?
Look no further – your new career awaits you! At QIFVLS, we are dedicated to combating Family and Domestic Violence within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Our methods encompass education, advocacy, legal reform, court support, and casework assistance. By focusing on early intervention and prevention, our aim is to empower individuals impacted by Family Violence to regain control over their lives. We are in search of outstanding and dynamic individuals who can join us in achieving this mission.
Check out our latest job opportunity listings, here.
When an individual or organisation makes a tax deductible donation to QIFVLS, they can be confident that their funds are going towards making a tangible difference to the safety and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing or at risk of domestic and family violence.
Our team are grateful for all donations that help our not-for-profit organisation to continue offering this critical service. Donations of $1,000 or more help fund outreach services to some of Queensland’s most remote ATSI communities.
