Charlotte Ford is driven by a passion for justice that recognises the complex realities shaping young people’s lives. That passion now informs her work as Legal Research Officer to His Honour Judge Quail, President of the Children’s Court of Western Australia, where she contributes to research that sits at the intersection of law, policy, and community outcomes.
Since graduating from UWA at the end of 2025 with a Juris Doctor, Charlotte has worked across policy development, legislative reform consultations, and matters of practice and procedure within the Children’s Court. Her role spans both civil and criminal jurisdictions, allowing her to engage deeply with issues affecting children, families, and the broader justice system.
“At the Children’s Court, legal decision‑making rarely exists in isolation,” Charlotte said. “It intersects with child development, health, education, family systems and social policy. Understanding those connections is critical to achieving fair and effective outcomes.”
Charlotte’s understanding of these intersections was first shaped through her involvement with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship, which began well before she ever studied law.
In 2021, while completing a Bachelor of Science at UWA and planning a future in medicine or allied health, Charlotte undertook a McCusker Centre internship with Patches Paediatrics. The experience would prove pivotal, introducing her to social justice through a policy and research lens.
During the internship, Charlotte conducted a literature review examining the relationship between neurodevelopmental disability and increased interactions with the criminal justice system. She also contributed to the development of a transitional program model designed to support people reintegrating into the community following custodial sentences.
“Stepping outside my discipline gave me insight into how complex socio‑health issues are addressed within legal and policy frameworks,” Charlotte said. “It showed me how the law can be a powerful tool for advocating for equitable outcomes that centre lived experience.”
In 2022, Charlotte’s contribution to the Justice Employment Project at Patches was recognised with the McCusker Centre’s Outstanding Intern Award.
Her connection with the Centre continued throughout her studies. In 2023, Charlotte took part in the McCusker Centre for Citizenship Mentoring Program and joined the Student Advisory Committee (SAC), supporting outreach to prospective interns. She went on to serve as Chair of the SAC for two years, coordinating student engagement initiatives, panel events, and discussions focused on key social issues.
In 2024, Charlotte was invited to be the youth representative on the panel for Western Australia’s Australian of the Year Award recipient and later spoke as a panellist at the UWA Winthrop Society, highlighting the impact of her undertaking an internship with the Centre. She concluded her time with the SAC at the end of 2025 facilitating an event for almost 200 student interns on juvenile justice—bringing her journey full circle.
Reflecting on her McCusker Centre for Citizenship experiences, Charlotte credits the Centre with fostering her confidence, leadership skills, and ability to think across disciplines.
“Working with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship broadened my understanding of the law as just one part of a wider social ecosystem,” she said. “That perspective has stayed with me and continues to shape how I approach research, policy and reform.”
Today, Charlotte remains motivated by advocating for legal outcomes that benefit both individuals and the wider community, with a particular focus on juvenile justice and social equity.
“My work is guided by an understanding that disability, health, education and socio‑economic disadvantage profoundly influence how people interact with the justice system,” she said. “Recognising those intersections is essential to improving outcomes.”
And Charlotte has simple advice for students considering a McCusker Centre internship—especially if it doesn’t seem directly related to their degree.
“Embrace the unfamiliar,” she said. “Comfort feels safe, but growth begins in discomfort. Crossing disciplines and perspectives creates space for new ideas and meaningful change.”
Charlotte Ford graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia in 2025 and is currently the Legal Research Officer to His Honour Judge Quail, President of the Children’s Court of Western Australia. Her interest in juvenile justice emerged during her Bachelor of Science at UWA through a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship with Patches Paediatrics. Alongside her studies, Charlotte clerked for a criminal defence barrister, volunteered at Circle Green Community Legal Centre, and completed summer clerkships at the District Court of Western Australia and the Supreme Court of Appeal.