***Content warning: This episode discusses institutional and child abuse. If this may be triggering for you, consider skipping this episode or listening at a different time. For support, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (more contact numbers below)*** 

They’re meant to be places that have your best interests at heart, but some religious and government institutions have instead become spaces where abuse and neglect have occurred. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse exposed the scale of historic abuse in institutions in Australia.

In this episode of Law Matters, Catherine Henry speaks with Bob O’Toole, Co-founder and Chair of the Clergy Abused Network (C.A.N.) Hunter-Newcastle-Manning, about how his organisation supports those seeking justice and redress.

In this episode, Catherine and Bob talk about:

• How C.A.N. supports survivors

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For support, please reach out to the following services:

Lifeline - Free 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis support for all Australians - Call 13 11 14

Clergy Abused Network - a network of trauma-informed and sensitive volunteers who share the experience of being impacted by abuse by clergy or abuse by lay workers in religious contexts.

National Redress Scheme - is for people who experienced child sexual abuse while in an institution. The Scheme helps people access redress and can connect them to free confidential Redress Support Services.

For more information, please visit:

Our free online resource FAQs: Institutional Abuse.

If you or someone you know needs advice regarding redress for institutional abuse, you can learn more by  contacting the team at Catherine Henry Lawyers on 1800 874 949. 

***Content warning: This episode discusses suicide and suicide prevention. If this may be triggering for you, consider skipping this episode or listening at a different time. For support, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (more contact numbers below)***

Death by suicide is hard to think about, let alone talk about. But this is what mental health advocate Craig Hamilton is asking us to do.

He wants everyone to make ‘the promise’ that if you’re struggling with your mental health, you will tell someone.

In this episode of Law Matters, Catherine Henry speaks to Craig about his recent documentary, The Promise, and the manic episode that began Craig’s mission to talk openly about mental health and work tirelessly to reduce stigma.

In this episode, Catherine and Craig talk about:

• How attitudes to mental health have changed over the past 20 years

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

Mental Health Services

Lifeline - Free 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis support for all Australians.

Suicide Call Back Service - Free 24/7 counselling support if you are at risk of or affected by suicide.

Kids Helpline - Free 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

13 YARN - Free 24/7 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander-run crisis support line.

If you or someone you know need advice regarding the care received during a mental health crisis, you can learn more about mental health and the law here, or contact the team at Catherine Henry Lawyers on 1800 874 949.

One in three women experience birth trauma. So, what's being done about it?

In May 2024, the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Birth Trauma released its report, which included five findings and 43 recommendations.

In this episode of Law Matters, Catherine Henry talks to the Chair of the Inquiry, MP for the NSW Animal Justice Party, Emma Hurst.

Together, they discuss:

• Why continuity of midwifery care is so vital to good birthing outcomes

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information:

• Access our free information resource

If you are not willing to be arrested in the fight against climate change, are you willing to support those climate activists who are?

That was the topic of discussion at the 2024 Margaret Henry Memorial Lecture with ethicist, writer and activist Dr Leslie Cannold from the Cranala Centre for Ethical Leadership, and Rising Tide Activist and Renewable Energy Engineer, Jasmine Stuart.

In this special episode of Law Matters, Catherine Henry brings to you the lecture that took place at Newcastle City Hall.

You’ll hear about:

• Why Rising Tide is targeting the coal port in Newcastle’s harbour as a vehicle to bring worldwide action to the climate crisis

• The strategy behind what is seen as radical activism and why climate activists feel this is their only option.

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information:

• Rising Tide

If you have a legal issue and want to talk to the team, you can find out more at Catherine Henry Lawyers, or by calling 1800 874 949.

Going through a relationship breakdown is difficult for anyone. When you add children to the equation and tensions escalate to the point of legal proceedings, it's hard to spot a winner.

That’s why the 2024 amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 hold such significant interest for those working in the field or facing a family law matter.

In this episode, Senior Associate and Practice Leader of Relationship Law, Rob Dilley, talks to Arbitrator, Mediator and Barrister, Colin Forrest SC. Colin also served as a trial judge in the Family Court of Australia for ten years before resigning in 2021.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The new amendments that place the rights of the child to see the parents at the forefront (not the rights of the parents to see the child)

Disclaimer

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information please visit:

Our extensive online resources on Family Law.

For more information on the family law reforms, here's a fact sheet for parents prepared by the Attorney-General's Department.

You can also download our free eBook, Families and the Law: A guide to help you navigate the family law system.

If you have a legal issue and live in regional NSW you can find out more at Catherine Henry Lawyers, or call the team on 1800 874 949.

Join us for this special episode of Law Matters, where three former clients of Catherine Henry Lawyers discuss their experiences with botched cosmetic surgery, from their decision-making process to the procedure and the subsequent legal action.

A word of warning: While these stories are graphic and alarming, we believe it's imperative for others to understand the experiences these women have endured and how to identify a reputable surgeon.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How first impressions differed greatly from the surgery experience

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information please visit:

Listen to the previous Law Matters Podcast episode on Cosmetic Surgery Reforms.

Find out more about Cosmetic Surgery Negligence.

Look up a practitioner with AHPRA.

On the face of it, there’s been a crackdown on cosmetic surgery. But is it enough to keep rogue practitioners from causing harm to unsuspecting patients?

In this episode of Law Matters, Practice Leader of Health Law, Rosemary Listing, talks to barrister and nurse, Ngaire Watson. Ngaire specialises in health and medical litigation and is also a spokesperson on health law and medical negligence with the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

Rosemary and Ngaire discuss the problems within the cosmetic surgery sector and how several reforms introduced in 2023 will impact the industry from a health and safety perspective.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• About the different reforms that have been introduced for cosmetic surgery, specifically around advertising, online presence and the use of the word ‘surgeon’

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information please visit:

• Listen to our previous episode of Law Matters on Cosmetic Surgery.

If you have a legal issue and live in NSW you can find out more at Catherine Henry Lawyers, or call the team on 1800 874 949.

Access to a dignified death, free from pain and suffering, should be available to all.

In this episode of Law Matters, Catherine Henry is joined by Hunter senior geriatrician, founding Chair of Hunter Ageing Alliance, and 2024 NSW Senior Australian of the Year, Dr. John Ward to explore the profound implications of the recently introduced Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws in NSW.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why NSW may be at an advantage by being the last state to implement these laws

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information please visit:

Q&A on Voluntary Assisted Dying.

End of life care resources.

Find out more about VAD from NSW Health.

If you have a legal issue and live in NSW you can find out more at Catherine Henry Lawyers, or call the team on 1800 874 949.

Inquests provide an important process to examine unexplained deaths. They serve to provide families with some form of solace for their loss, and the community with lessons to avoid repeating past mistakes. But some say the coronial inquest system is broken.

In this episode of Law Matters with Catherine Henry Lawyers, guest host Ray Watterson, Adjunct Professor, School of Law, La Trobe University and former Associate Professor of Law at the University of Newcastle, talks to former Deputy State Coroner, Hugh Dillon about the current state of inquests in NSW, the recommendations that have been made in a previous parliamentary inquiry, and how the system may improve in the future.

In this episode you’ll find out:

• Why those who have worked in the system for years feel it needs an overhaul

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information please visit:

Find out more about coronial inquests here.

If you have a legal issue and live in NSW you can find out more at Catherine Henry Lawyers, or call the team on 1800 874 949.

Recently retired family lawyer, accredited family law specialist, and University of Newcastle law academic, Rachael Wallbank has played a pivotal role in numerous groundbreaking cases in Australia involving individuals identifying as transgender or intersex.

In part two of our two-part special, Catherine Henry engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Rachael, exploring the transformative cases that have reshaped legal perspectives for individuals who identify as being a different gender to what they were assigned at birth.

In this episode you’ll find out:

• How the landmark case Re Kevin changed how the law considers gender for the purposes of marriage

Disclaimer 

While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. You should see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your situation.

For more information please visit:

If anything in this episode brought something up for you, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

If you have a legal issue and live in NSW you can find out more at Catherine Henry Lawyers, or call the team on 1800 874 949.