Year Admitted: 2007 (Vic)
Date Signed Bar Roll: 2017 (Vic)

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Laws (with Honours)
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
  • Bachelor of Commerce

Professional Memberships:

  • South Australian Bar Association
  • Victorian Bar Association
  • Member of the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
  • Law Society of South Australia

Areas of Practice:

  • Criminal – Mental Illness
  • Family Law and Guardianship – Care and Protection
  • Inquests/inquiries – Commissions and other Inquiries
  • Inquests/inquiries – Coronial Inquests
  • Public/Administrative – Appellate
  • Public/Administrative – Civil and Human Rights
  • Public/Administrative – Disciplinary Proceedings
  • Public/Administrative – Discrimination
  • Public/Administrative – Immigration Law
  • Public/Administrative – Judicial Review and Administrative Law
  • Public/Administrative – Merits Review
  • Public/Administrative – Privacy/Freedom of Information

Estelle has 15 years’ experience in public and administrative law, including 10 years as a solicitor and 5 years as Counsel.

Estelle has worked on Inquiries and Royal Commissions having previously acted as Counsel Assisting the Health Complaints Commissioner’s Inquiry into Assisted Reproductive Treatment Practices. She has also assisted the Victorian State Government in its response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system and Bushfire Royal Commission.

Estelle has expertise in coronial proceedings having acted as Counsel in high-profile matters for Child Protection and VicRoads.

In relation to disciplinary proceedings, Estelle has acted for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, lawyers seeking admission before the Victorian Legal Admissions Committee and the Victorian Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

In relation to civil proceedings, Estelle has acted for many Government Departments in various matters including summons objections, ward of state historical abuse claims, victims of crime proceedings and working with children check reviews. Estelle has particular expertise in Tribunal matters and reviews of Government decision-making.

Estelle has vast experience in Youth Court matters, including appearing unled for Child Protection in Supreme Court appeals and coronial proceedings.

Estelle also accepts briefs in quasi criminal matters. Estelle has expertise in crimes mental impairment and post sentence supervision order matters relating to serious offenders.

Before coming to the Bar, Estelle was a Principal Solicitor for several Government Departments, including the then Department of Health and Human Services, Corrections Victoria and the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office as well as working as a solicitor at a major law firm, Minter Ellison. Estelle has also been involved in legislative drafting and has worked on both primary and subordinate legislation. Previously, Estelle was the Associate to the Patient Review Panel, and she has expertise in IVF law and board governance requirements.