Dr. Angela O’Brien

Prior to joining the Bar, Angela was a senior academic at the University of Melbourne where she was most recently Deputy Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and foundation Head of the School of Creative Arts.

• Victorian Bar ADR Committee
• Victorian Bar Art and Collections Committee
• Family Law Bar Association
• Children’s Court Bar Association
• Resolution Institute, Association of Family Law Mediators
• Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators
• Family Law Section of the Law Institute
• Western Edge Youth Arts Board (Chair)
• Camberwell Community Centre Management Committee.

As a former academic, Angela published regularly and undertook a number of Australia Research Council funded projects.

With specific relation to her current work, she was the Chief Investigator in a large four year ARC funded project supported by the Department of Justice, Department of Human Services, VicHealth, Arts Victoria and the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, which investigated the use of the arts as a diversion for young people at risk, including those in juvenile custodian centres. This project won the University of Melbourne inaugural Knowledge Transfer Excellence Award in 2007.

Angela was an active member of the duty barrister scheme in the Melbourne Magistrates Intervention list and a member of the Victorian Bar Duty Barrister Committee. She accepts probono briefs in her areas of specialisation.