Keogh’s Law: Advocacy, ambition, and the will to protect

University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Law and Justice graduate Gemma Keogh has always been driven by a desire to create meaningful change in the lives of vulnerable individuals and families.

This deep commitment to social justice was recognised during her studies when she was awarded the prestigious Best Wilson Buckley Family Violence & Child Protection Law Prize, which honoured the highest-achieving student in the subject LAW3479.

The UniSQ alumnus is determined to make her mark in the field of family law and child protection – a passion she shared with us as we sat down to learn more about her journey, motivations, and aspirations for the future.

Tell us about why you chose to study Law at UniSQ?

My choice to study at UniSQ was twofold. I worked – and still do – for a not-for-profit that moves me regularly around Australia, so I required flexibility and a solid online delivery system when it came to studying. UniSQ has a strong reputation for supporting regional and remote students, as well as its commitment to practical, community-focused learning.

I was further drawn to the Law program specifically because all of the research I conducted at the time showed that the teaching staff valued student learning and provided a space to foster deeper understandings of the law. Studying Law at UniSQ has allowed me to build the legal skills I need while staying grounded in the values that first drew me to the profession. It also allowed me the flexibility to study while I worked full-time in youth homelessness.

What did it mean to you to be awarded the Best Wilson Buckley Family Violence & Child Protection Law Prize as the highest achieving student in Family Violence and Child Protection Law (LAW3479)?

Receiving this award was incredibly humbling. Family Violence and Child Protection Law is an emotionally complex and critically important area, and to be recognised in this space meant a lot to me. The prize affirmed that the effort I had put into deeply understanding this subject – and the lives it impacts – was meaningful. I was also very fortunate to be taught by the formidable Dr Kathy Reeves. Her dedication to her students, their overall learning, and their capacity to enter into practice was phenomenal.

The prize came at a time when I was navigating the pressures of balancing study, work, and cost-of-living pressures. In addition to this, I was also facing the constant ebb and flow that Law students no doubt experience, where I was contemplating if I was on the right path. This recognition gave me renewed focus and purpose; it also reminded me that advocating for vulnerable people, especially children and survivors of domestic violence, is a space where I can make a real difference.

How did this further your aspirations in the Law field?

This prize and its recognition solidified my belief that I belong in a field where compassion, integrity, and legal advocacy intersect. Studying this unit at UniSQ encouraged me to focus more intently on areas of the law that protect human rights and promote social justice. But it also opened my eyes to ways in which legal expertise can be used not just in courtrooms, but in shaping policy, reform and education. Dr Reeves showed her students the practicality of the law and how it can be used in all spaces.

I am now affirmed in my aspiration to be a voice for those who have been silenced and advocate for people’s rights – whether that is in family law, child protection, criminal law, or in a community legal advocacy space.

Is family law something you would like to continue to pursue? What are some of your career goals within this profession?

Absolutely. Family law is a space where empathy and legal knowledge come together in powerful ways. After undertaking Dr Reeves’ class, I am particularly drawn to work that supports those impacted by family and domestic violence, protects children’s rights, and ensures fair and safe outcomes for all parties.

I know that my career is still building, and I will undertake many different roles to gain a wide breadth of experience. However, my long-term goal is to work in a role that blends advocacy with practical support – whether that is in a community legal centre, government agency or private practice with a strong social justice focus. I also hope to one day contribute to legal education or policy reform in the area of family violence and child protection.

What would you say to Best Wilson Buckley Family Law about receiving the prize?

I sincerely thank Best Wilson Buckley Family Law for their generous support of students and their commitment to recognising excellence in such a vital area of law. This prize was more than an academic achievement – it was a reminder that this work matters.

Your encouragement has not only helped ease the financial pressure of study, but it has also motivated me to continue pursuing a career focused on protecting and empowering vulnerable individuals. Thank you for investing in the future of family law and for inspiring students like me to keep striving towards justice and compassion in legal practice.

It is also important to note that the support from Best Wilson Buckley Family Law to a smaller law school is meaningful, as the impact and reach that this prize has on a cohort that largely consists of mature-aged and distance students is profound.

Learn more about Law at UniSQ and the Best Wilson Buckley Family Violence & Child Protection Law Prize.