PIAC hosted an ‘office-warming’ last night to
celebrate its joint venture with Sydney Law School and its move to new premises
at 173-175 Phillip Street, Sydney.
‘The move brings PIAC to the heart of the legal
precinct and an activist stone’s throw from Parliament,’ said PIAC chief
executive, Edward Santow.
‘This is exactly where we want to be. Our
location symbolises our desire to be at the heart of decision-making, but to do
so in a way that brings our clients and partners with us.’
Mr Santow said the joint venture enables PIAC to
tap into students’ ideas and energy, and to work with academics on areas of
shared interest.
‘I’m delighted that we’ve entered this joint
venture with Sydney Law School and I particularly commend Dean Gillian Triggs
for being so receptive and positive.
‘I also thank Gillian and the University more
generally for recognising that PIAC’s independence and autonomy are sacrosanct,
and for their encouragement that we continue to work with other universities
and centres of learning.
Dean Gillian Triggs thanked PIAC chair Peter
Cashman for helping to bring the internship program with PIAC to fruition.
‘Many students come up to me and say it’s the
best part of their training,’ she said.
Top photo: Professor Eileen Baldry (l) with Shopfront’s Jane Sanders, NCOSS’ Alison Peters, and Padma Raman from the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Below: PIAC’s Edward Santow with Sydney Law School Dean, Gillian Triggs; Tanya Jackson-Vaughan from the Refugee Advice + Casework Service, with Sarah Dale from the Public Interest Law Clearing House.
