From a young age Alicia Smyth has been passionate about human rights and injustices.
Growing up in Rockhampton, a spark was ignited in her to help others, especially Indigenous people too often over-represented in the nation's criminal justice system.
Now the Torres Strait Islander woman, whose family is from Badu Island, is a step closer to reaching the bar by winning an inaugural Griffith University scholarship supporting Indigenous women law students.
"It's really great that this award is creating opportunities for Indigenous women to rise up in law," Ms Smyth said.
'Only Indigenous face there'
The Joshua Creamer and Kara Cook Excellence in Law Award was created by the namesake couple to increase diversity at the bar.
A Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, Mr Creamer is an esteemed barrister from Mount Isa and attended school in Yeppoon.
Ms Cook is a Brisbane city councillor.
"There are 1,164 barristers in Queensland [and] 254 of those are women. There's only two Indigenous women in that group and about six Indigenous men," Mr Creamer said.
"We just need more representation at that level. We've only got two Indigenous judges in all of Australia."
Neither of those judges are women.
Mr Creamer has been involved in some of the biggest legal cases involving Indigenous people over the past decade including the Palm Island class action lawsuit, and a class action for stolen wages brought by lead applicant Hans Pearson.
"I've spent a lot of time interviewing Indigenous women. I just really wanted to make sure that there are actual Indigenous women at the bar to be able to do that sort of work too," Mr Creamer said.
Making up for the past
He said the slim numbers were largely driven by historical factors.
"Under the protection era, Indigenous people weren't allowed to be educated beyond grade four. We had our money kept by the state, so we couldn't financially advance," Mr Creamer said.
"All these factors kept us down and there's a need to try and overcome that today.
"That was one of the driving factors for my wife and I [to] actually have Indigenous women practising at the top levels of law.
"The more we have Indigenous people out there practising in the broader profession, but also representing Indigenous clients' interests, the better outcome for those clients."
'Just go for it'
The new scholarship has three parts: financial assistance, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Ms Smyth is in her fourth year of a double degree, a Bachelor of Laws and Government and International Relations, and her eyes are firmly on the long-term prize of becoming a human rights lawyer.
She admitted it had been daunting at times, but she has a message for those considering following in her footsteps.
"Just go for it. You're always going to have support. Just reach out to your community, there'll be people there that want to help you succeed," she said.
