QUT law and business graduate Kat Dorante's passion for human rights has taken her all the way to Canberra and the Attorney-General's Department (AGD).
Kat completed her double degree at QUT in Brisbane in 2021 and began a 12-month graduate program position with the AGD in February 2022.
The sought-after program then led to her current position as a legal officer with the AGD's Royal Commissions Branch.
"The AGD Graduate Program was an invaluable experience with three rotations across various policy areas, the opportunity to contribute to policy development and to meet some really great people!" Kat said.
"The department also supported me to complete my Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, so I was admitted at the end of 2022 to the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.
"I am proud to work in the Royal Commissions Branch. The branch supports royal commissions to conduct their inquiries into matters of significant public importance.
"The branch is responsible for establishing and providing support to royal commissions to assist them to commence their inquiries in a timely manner, consistent with their terms of reference, to uphold the rule of law and to provide strong oversight, transparency, and accountability in matters of public importance.
"Once royal commissions have been established and are operating independently, we work with the royal commission to provide the information and evidence they need from the government to conduct their inquiries."
Kat said her QUT double degree had prepared her well for her role in Canberra.
"Both my law and business degrees helped me tremendously for my current job," she said.
"My law subjects gave me skills in legal research and writing which I use every day in my role, and my economics subjects helped me understand policy and its impacts."
Kat is a Torres Strait Islander woman who grew up in Mission Beach in far north Queensland with a close-knit family – and goals to forge a career in law and help improve life for her people and all Australians.
During her Bachelor of Business (Economics)/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) double degree, she represented QUT at a United Nations Peace Summit in Bangkok – an experience she says really opened her eyes to global human rights issues. She also completed an exchange semester at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
Kat also worked as an Oodgeroo student ambassador with QUT's Oodgeroo Unit (its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student support service) during uni, and as an intern with Brisbane law firm Gadens, where she was part of their Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group.
She's been able to continue her advocacy work in Canberra.
"I am currently involved in the Attorney-General's Department's Indigenous Employee Network," she said.
"I have been able to meet some incredible First Nations colleagues at the department who inspire and guide me. I have also just started working as an Indigenous Tuition Program tutor at the Australian National University. It has been really rewarding to support other First Nations students as they navigate law school."
Kat said she was enjoying life in Canberra and hoped to stay in the national capital.
"I am really grateful to have been provided the opportunity to work at the department through the grad program, as it is a place I can see myself working for a very long time," she said.
"The work is fascinating, challenging and rewarding!
"I am hoping to build my skills as a legal policy officer and contribute to the law and justice frameworks that the Attorney-General's Department is responsible for."
And despite the big difference to the Queensland climate, Kat said she was getting used to Canberra weather and appreciated the social life of the national capital.
"My first Canberra winter was definitely a shock to the system!" she said.
"I had to quickly go out and buy the essentials including a puffer jacket, wool gloves and an electric blanket. Once I had these, life was a lot more comfortable.
"Fortunately, Canberra has some beautiful surrounding national parks, bush walks – and beaches that you can reach after a two or three hour drive – which makes life here really enjoyable.
"Canberra is also very social and I play social sports most weeks."
Video above: Kat featured in this 2020 QUT video while she was a university student in Brisbane.
First Nations students interested in learning more about QUT study options, including business and law, are welcome to contact the university's Oodgeroo Unit.
Photo at top: Kat Dorante at the QUT Oodgeroo Unit's 30th anniversary dinner.
