Earlier this year, Twenty10 bid a very fond and grateful farewell to Hilary Kincaid, Principal Solicitor at the Inner City Legal Centre, facilitator of our monthly legal aid clinic, and a long standing and impactful support for young LGBTIQA+ people.

Since 2013, Hilary has operated a free monthly legal clinic for LGBTIQA+ youth at Twenty10, providing legal advice and support around our clients’ rights, experiences of discrimination and legal proceedings. Our staff and clients have come to know Hilary for her friendly banter and laughs in Drop In, but more so for her crucial support of our community within Twenty10 and beyond.

Over the last 7 years, Hilary has worked formidably to further legal protections for the LGBTIQA+ community, within and beyond Twenty10. In 2017 Hilary was one of the principal lawyers challenging – and ultimately overturning – the requirement that families of transgender children seeking stage 2 cross sex hormone treatment be authorised by the Family Court – an incredible achievement for young trans and gender diverse folks. Closer to Twenty10, Hilary has generously shared her invaluable expertise with our team of staff and volunteers, becoming part of the rich fabric of our work.

LGBTIQA+ people are often less likely to access support in mainstream services due to fear of discrimination and lack of understanding of their specific needs and issues. Hilary’s practice, knowledge and availability in a space where young people feel safe has been invaluable to those needing legal support. She has additionally extended other practitioners’ legal knowledge of LGBTIQA+ issues by, among other things, developing LGBTIQA+ specific legal factsheets and tools that are freely accessible through Inner City Legal Centre’s website.

It is hard to overstate how important Hilary’s contribution has been during her time at Twenty10, and we’re going to miss her friendly presence here each month.

Hilary, we wish you the very best.

Photo by Ann-Marie Calihanna