I am pleased to announce that Dr Anna Parker and Ms Dearne Firth have been appointed as judges of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (Division 2) (formerly the Federal Circuit Court of Australia) and will commence on 29 November 2021.
Dr Parker has been appointed to the South Australian Registry. She was admitted as an Australian legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2006. Dr Parker is a Senior Registrar and National Operations Registrar (Judicial Case management) at the FCFCOA working across both divisions.
Ms Firth has been appointed to the Queensland Registry. She was admitted to practice as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2008 and was subsequently admitted as a barrister in 2010. In addition to being a barrister, Ms Firth is a nationally accredited mediator and arbitrator.
On behalf of the Australian Government, I congratulate Dr Parker and Ms Firth on their appointments and thank them for their willingness to serve the people of Australia as Judges of the FCFCOA (Division 2).
Dr Anna Parker
Dr Parker graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Monash University in 2005. She then graduated with a Doctorate of Juridical Science (in the area of family law) from Monash University in 2016 and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne in 2021. Dr Parker was admitted as a barrister in 2016 to the Victorian Bar practising exclusively in family law and related areas. Prior to joining the Bar, Dr Parker practised as a family law solicitor for approximately 10 years, including as a partner at Nicholes Family Lawyers. Dr Parker has also presented and written papers on a wide range of family law issues.
Ms Dearne Firth
Ms Firth graduated with a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Griffith University in 2007. Ms Firth commenced her career as Judge's Associate to the Honourable Judge Gregory Koppenol, Judge of the District Court of Queensland. She was subsequently a Federal Prosecutor and then Senior Federal Prosecutor at the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. As a barrister, Ms Firth practises primarily in family law, representing clients in parenting and property matters, including domestic violence proceedings and child protection matters.
