• Entry type: Resource
  • Entry ID: AWH002768

Megan Davis interviewed by Kim Rubenstein in the Trailblazing women and the law pilot oral history project

  • Repository National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore Collection
  • Reference ORAL TRC 6230/3
  • Date Range 28-Sep-10 - 29-Sep-10
  • Description

    4 sound files (ca. 337 min.) Megan Davis speaks about her early childhood in Qld.; her parents background; her siblings and their careers; interracial marriage; schooling and experiences in the education system; racial discrimination; the Indigenous and South Sea Islander identity; religion and spirituality; career choices; political influences; the Whitlam dismissal (1975); her early interest in Constitutional law; transition to university life (1993), life in residence at Duchesne College, studies of politics, Latin, Ancient Roman history and Australian history; studying law in her second year, experience as Indigenous woman at law school; a legal cadetship at ATSIC and her experiences; reflections on class, race, education and disadvantage; gender and law, influence on later Masters study; her United Nations Indigenous Fellowship at the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, supervisors, connections, role models and mentors; completing legal workshop and training in Canberra at ATSIC; travelling as an ATSIC advisor; leaving ATSIC to commence a Masters degree in Law at Australian National University in 2000; working with George Williams on Bill of Rights project; her first academic teaching experience; racism and sexism in the workplace; her resignation from ATSIC; her experience at Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Sydney; her United Nations work while at Jumbunna; her return to University of New South Wales law school as Director, Indigenous Law Centre. Davis discusses her PhD studies while working as Director and as a Commissioner on New South Wales Land and Environment Court (2007); research projects undertaken at Indigenous Law Centre; Constitutional law reform project; the drafting of United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Persons; working with Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA); working as United Nations consultant with UNESCO, UNITAR and WIPO; 2007 One Future Forum; her involvement in Reconciliation Australia as legal advisor; her work with Australian Human Rights Commission; her appointment to N.S.W. Sentencing Council; her involvement in Ngara Yura Indigenous Committee of N.S.W. branch, Judicial Commission of Australia; her involvement in new Indigenous peak representative body, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and Co-Chair of Ethics Committee; nomination as Australian representative on United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the selection process, taking up position for three year term; studying and completing her PhD at Australian National University, academic and other mentors; Human rights law, sentencing law, native title law; class relations in Australia; parent-child relationships; her relationship with Indigenous women; her leadership style; UNSW Indigenous Law Centre; her plans for future; Indigenous scholarship and perceptions of Indigenous scholars; Aboriginal women leaders.

  • Access Written permission required for research, personal copies and public use during the lifetime of the interviewee.
  • Finding Aid Timed summary (8 p.) and uncorrected transcript (typescript, 182 leaves)

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  • Primary Creator
    • Davis, Megan (1975 - )