Thelma Schwartz is the principal legal officer of the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS), an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation providing legal and non-legal support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault in Queensland

Thelma identifies as of Torres Strait Islander heritage alongside her German, Samoan and Papua New Guinean heritage. She has more than 21 years post-admission experience working in commercial litigation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, in criminal law defence extensively across the Far North Queensland region representing men, women and children across multiple courts. In 2018, in recognition of her work in regional and remote Queensland, Thelma was the award recipient of the Regional Woman Lawyer of the Year 2018 by the Women Lawyer’s Association of Queensland. Thelma has extensive practice experiences working with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in the provision of legal services in regional, rural and remote Queensland.

Thelma appeared as a witness before the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and Inquiry into Family Domestic and Sexual Violence. She is a member of the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce.

Members of the panel were very impressed by what she has achieved in her legal career providing services to many victims and survivors of family violence across the state. But it is her ongoing and tireless advocacy against the national crisis of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women and their children that is at the heart of this award. Thelma has taken this to a national level, serving on taskforces, committees and panels as well as appearing and speaking out in the media while always remaining grounded in the lived experiences of First peoples women and children.  Thelma wants to use the award to extend QIFVLS program for young people. She and a colleague are aiming to create a culturally appropriate framework and model to deliver the Love Bites training package for 60+ ATSI communities across Queensland. 

We believe her work is crucial to supporting safe pathways out of violence for Indigenous women and their children. And there is still much to do.

About the Advancement of Women Award

The Zonta Club of Brisbane Advancement of Women award recognises a person who, through their leadership, work or advocacy, is progressing the status of women by either creating new pathways for women, facilitating women’s advancement along existing pathways, or advancing the interests of women through other endeavours in social, community, economic, academic, political or work environments.

The Award provides $5,000 to the winner who will also be offered a year of collaboration with members of the Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc.