Laura Chipp

I am deeply passionate about advocating and representing children and young people, especially those most marginalised and vulnerable within Victoria and around the world.

I have been working as a lawyer, advocate, educator and advisor within the criminal justice and youth justice systems for around 17+ years. Recently, I have worked as a Principal Advisor to Community Operations and Practice as well as being a Manager of the Youth Justice Act Implementation Team at Youth Justice, Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria. I have worked as Strategic Legal Adviser to General Counsel at Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. 

Further, I have a strong passion for community law. In a health justice partnership at First Step Legal, I provided holistic community legal services in criminal law & family violence for some of Victoria's most vulnerable people with mental health issues & addiction. I also designed a legal module to assist in the “Men’s Behaviour Change” Program to assist Respondents to better understand an IVO and how to comply with the conditions, and follow the complex Court proceedings. 

Since 2008, for 10 years I volunteered as a Lawyer & A/Supervisor of a specialist community legal centre, which assists victims of sexual assault seek compensation to "assist with the their recovery"(SECASA Joint Legal Clinic). 

I have practiced as a lawyer/advocate and held senior management positions at Victoria Legal Aid (Victoria's largest criminal defence firm) including managing and leading the Youth Crime (statewide) Program which represented children charged with criminal offences. I am an experienced manager & have been a practising criminal lawyer at VLA from 2010. I practiced in criminal law (kids & adults) & Mental Health Tribunal, Family violence, child protection and victims of crime assistance Tribunal matters.

I was the founder and first state-wide Head Prosecutor for all criminal Children’s Court cases in Victoria. In 2017 I created & founded the Statewide Specialist Children’s Court Prosecution Unit at Victoria Police. I led the unit of 80 specialist Prosecutors state-wide who prosecute all Children’s Court matters. I work extensively in high level policy & stakeholder projects.

Whilst working full time, I undertook a 3/4 study load on top where in 2015, I completed my Masters of Public & International Law. I wrote thesis’ in the areas of children's law, women's law, mental health law, public health law and subjects discussing the defects in the criminal justice system & the cycle of generational poverty. I also have my Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Business and Commerce and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Whilst at VLA, I presented to 1000s of kids in Victoria proving outreach community legal education in schools about “sex, young people and the law” and their rights and responsibilities under the law. Further I worked aboard on volunteer placements focusing on empowering and supporting children in both the Philippines (2006) & Uganda (2008) - both programs focused on empowering kids to understand their rights & responsibilities under the law. 

I am strongly driven by social justice, advocacy, the power of education to our youth, inclusion & politics.

Assisting and supporting children and young people has always been my primary passion, and additionally supporting all community members who also have lived experience in disability, mental health, addiction and other areas of vulnerability and/or marginalisation.