Gina Masterton

From 1995 to 1999 I studied law at QUT Brisbane and graduated in early 2000 with a Bachelor of Laws. While studying, I worked for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (Brisbane) as a legal cadet. In July 2000 I was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia as a Barrister-at-Law, and then moved to Los Angeles. For thirteen years I worked for litigation and entertainment firms and at the end of 2013, I relocated to Brisbane. I obtained a Solicitor’s Practising Certificate and in February 2014 I enrolled in a Master of Laws (Coursework) program at QUT. At the end of 2014, I received a Graduate Diploma and subsequently conferred to a Master of Laws (Research) program to write a thesis on the introduction of the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, to which Australia is a signatory. In July 2016 I graduated with a Master of Laws (Research).

In August 2016 I was accepted to undertake a PhD with Griffith University Law School to research and write about how international and Australian family law affects women fleeing domestic violence with their children across borders. I have completed data collection and my research shows that Australia’s current legal processes discriminate and traumatise mothers and children, and I'm working towards law reform in this area. I expect to complete my PhD in December 2019 while working as a part-time tutor with the Griffith University Criminology School.