Recognising Excellence in NSW Government Legal Service
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President of the Law Society of NSW, Juliana Warner, today congratulated Dayna Greenfield, Manager of Legal Advice and Legislation, at the NSW Department of Education, who has been awarded the 2021 Michelle Crowther PSM Excellence in Government Legal Service Award.
The Excellence in Government Legal Service Award, named in honour of the late Michelle Crowther PSM, recognises significant contributions by public sector solicitors. Michelle Crowther PSM rendered extraordinary public service through her work at Legal Aid NSW and was a fearless advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
The 2021 Award recipient, Dayna Greenfield, leads a small team of inhouse lawyers, which supports the Early Childhood Directorate, the body that regulates 5,800 education and care services at more than 14,000 locations in NSW.
“In her role, Danya is renowned for her understanding of the Education and Care Services National Law and how it applies in NSW; for her commitment to the professional development of her staff; and for her careful and diligent approach to litigation,” Ms Warner said.
“Dayna works collaboratively with her team and external legal representatives to ensure that the knowledge and expertise of those around her is utilised for the best outcomes of the Department.
“Dayna has pioneered the evolution of implementation of the National Law in a highly specialised area of education and care services law.
“She willingly shares her knowledge with colleagues and contributes greatly to the wider understanding of this niche area across legal practice,” Ms Warner said.
In accepting the award, Ms Greenfield said she has spent her entire 31 year career in the public service striving for excellence and has always imposed high standards upon herself.
“Over the years, I have learnt from both my achievements and my failures and have come to understand that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going,” she said.
“Since becoming a Government Solicitor I have certainly come to realise the importance of the work that we do – to act in a manner befitting the profession, to ask what the client needs, to give frank and fearless advice, and to look for appropriate and practical solutions.
“None of that work is done in isolation but depends on the support of the people around you.
“In providing that service we rely on each other and on our combined experience, because there is always something new to learn and no single person has all the answers.
“I am deeply humbled to receive this award because there are so many out there who have worked tirelessly in the background and who deserve recognition for all that you do. I am but one of many,” she said.
President of the Law Society of NSW, Juliana Warner also congratulated, Vaughan Roles, Solicitor
at Legal Aid NSW, the recipient of a Highly Commended nomination for the Michelle Crowther PSM
Excellence in Government Legal Service Award.
“Vaughan is regarded as a skilful advocate, proficient in the law, persuasive before the bench, and passionate about serving his clients,” Ms Warner said.
“Many of his clients are have significant intellectual disabilities or major mental health conditions who don’t have family or close friends to advocate their specific societal rights.
“He is also a mentor to many of his juniors at Parramatta Local Court and highly regarded for his leadership qualities.”
Mr Roles said it was very special to be recognised by his peers in both the private and public sector.
“It is a privilege to receive this award in circumstances where I worked with Michelle [Crowther] at Legal Aid and have first-hand knowledge of the contribution she made as a public service solicitor,” he said.
“It is humbling when your colleagues within government choose you as the recipient of an award.
“It is more so to have been nominated by members of the private profession.”
Mr Roles, who is totally blind, thanked all those who have supported and mentored him in his 22-year career.
“Some people still see disabilities such as mine as unfortunate,” he said.
“I can say, categorically, this is not true.
“Be assured my blindness has given me many opportunities in life that I may not otherwise have had.
“Away from work, I have been fortunate enough to represent NSW and Australia in Blind Cricket.
“Elite sport fine-tunes and enhances many of the skills we bring to our working lives – discipline, resilience, and an ability to perform under pressure.
“As a person with a disability, these skills are vital for success - professionally and personally.
“It is truly an exciting time to practice law as a blind person,” Mr Roles said.
A transcript of the acceptance speeches by Dayna Greenfield (Winner, 2021 Michelle Crowther PSM Excellence
in Government Legal Service Award and Vaughan Roles (Highly Nominated) follows.
Speech: Danya Greenfield, Winner, 2021 Michelle Crowther PSM Excellence in Government Legal Service Award
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge Sonja Stewart and to thank the committee for selecting me as this year’s recipient of the Michelle Crowther PSM Excellence in Government Legal Service Award.
Words really cannot express how honoured I feel. I have always thought of these types of awards as being for extraordinary people, doing extraordinary work, and not for ordinary people like me. In fact, when I received the call to say I would be receiving the award, I asked “are you sure you have the right person.”
I have spent my entire career of 31 years in the public service and during that time I have strived for excellence and always imposed high standards upon myself. Over the years, I have learnt from both my achievements and my failures and have come to understand that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going. When I decided to study law, it took me 10 years through the legal profession admission board, doing one subject each semester. When I was finally admitted to the Supreme Court, in terms of proud career moments, I thought that nothing could be better, but then I received my practising certificate and now, after 5 years as a Government Solicitor, I am receiving this award.
Again, I find myself thinking that nothing could be better than this. But I must acknowledge that I did not do this on my own. There are many people to thank along my journey – my parents, for instilling in me the values of a strong work ethic and tenacity; my partner, for putting up with many things; our General Counsel, Sarah Hargans, for being my unofficial mentor, and my team mates, Christie Elemam and Patricia Navea.
Since becoming a Government Solicitor, I have certainly come to realise the importance of the work we do, to act in a manner befitting the profession, to ask what the client needs, to give frank and fearless advice, and to look for appropriate and practical solutions. None of that work is done in isolation but depends upon the support of the people around you. In providing a service, we rely upon each other and on our combined experience because there is always something new to learn and because no single person can have all of the answers.
And it is for that reason that I am also deeply humbled to receive this award, because there are so many of you out there who have worked tirelessly in the background, and who deserve recognition for all that you do. I am but one of many.
In closing, once again I would like to express my sincere thanks to the committee for this award, and to the people who have helped me and taught me along the way.
Doctor Albert Schweitzer said: “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
Thank you.
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Speech: Vaughan Roles, Highly Nominated, 2021 Michelle Crowther PSM Excellence in Government Legal Service Award
Thank you for those kind words. I also thank the members of the Government Solicitor’s’ Committee for this award. It is a privilege to receive this award, in circumstances where I worked with Michelle at Legal Aid and have first-hand knowledge of the contributions she made as a public service solicitor.
It is humbling when your colleagues within government choose you as the recipient of an award. It is more-so to have been nominated by members of the private profession. I thank all involved for taking the time to do so. To be recognized by your peers in both private and public practise is very special.
I am not a senior lawyer within the management structure of Legal Aid. I work at the coal face.
One reason I can do so much is the extraordinary trust and flexibility my supervising solicitor, Ikbal Khan, places in me. In short, he supports everything I do publicly, even if we occasionally privately disagree. What is truly gratifying is that over a long working relationship we have always been united in the final decisions that are taken. Ikbal I couldn’t do what I do for our clients without your support and I thank you. I feel very fortunate to have you as a manager and a friend.
I take this opportunity to thank my current and former colleagues who have worked with me over a long period of time at Parramatta. You kindly listen to me and, for the most part, accept my advice when it is given.
I sincerely thank the judiciary. I am fortunate in that I have a special interest in representing people with intellectual or mental health disabilities. I value the fact that You trust me when I tell you supports are available for offenders, or I ask for an opportunity to put a complex plan in place. This truly means a lot to myself and those people who I represent. I remain hopeful that an increased knowledge of the role of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in supporting people with disability within our profession will lead to significant improvements in the quality of the lives of people with disability.
I’d like to thank those throughout my career who have believed in me and mentored me. I remember the Barristers at Lachlan Macquarie Chambers in Parramatta who took me on for my practical legal training 22 years ago, many of whom continue their professional commitment to my career as good friends and mentors to this day. Work, as a blind lawyer, was very different back then.
On this subject, I am very grateful for the fact I am totally blind. The ability to see, which most of you understandably take for granted, cannot be underestimated. Some people still see disabilities such as mine as unfortunate. I can say, categorically, this is not true. Be assured my blindness has given me many opportunities in life that I may not otherwise have had. Away from work, I have been fortunate enough to represent NSW and Australia in Blind Cricket. Elite sport fine-tunes and enhances many of the skills we bring to our working lives – discipline, resilience, and an ability to perform under pressure. As a person with a disability, these skills are vital for success - professionally and personally.
It is truly an exciting time to practice law as a blind person. When I began my professional life, I had to summarize each document in Braille. I could not consult legislation in court. This necessitated training the memory to recall large amounts of information for a short period of time.
The advent of smart phone technology, Braille printers, Braille screens and smaller, more powerful computers has levelled the playing field for the blind lawyer. Like my sighted colleagues, I can now read printed and electronic documents literally passed to me in court. But old habits, as the cliché says, die hard. I rarely read from notes. When I do pleas and sentences, I rely on memory. Advocacy, as you know, is about the art of persuasion – that flows from being well prepared well organized and a sound knowledge of your subject.
In closing, there are two final groups that need acknowledgement. This award is as much my family’s as it is mine. They put up with my early morning alarms, the shutting of bedroom doors so they can sleep and an imposed understanding that court-room advocacy is at times all-consuming.
Not least, I thank my clients. They often can’t remember my name and ask for the solicitor with the guide dog.
Many of them come from a truly traumatic past. Most of them have significant intellectual disabilities or major mental health conditions. Regrettably, most of them don’t have any family or close friends to advocate their specific societal rights. There is little hope of fixing legal problems for these people without ensuring they are engaged with disability services, have a house, consult mental health professionals and receive assistance. The assistance in many cases is in respect to drug and alcohol addictions. The decline in social services for these people means the lawyer must take a holistic approach.
You, my clients, afford me the opportunity to be recognized for which I am truly thankful.
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