Speaker Details

Patricia Staunton is a graduate in law from the University of London and has a Masters degree in Criminology from the University of Sydney. She undertook postgraduate legal studies in the United Kingdom and was admitted as a barrister in England and Wales in 1976 and to the NSW Bar in the same year.

Patricia has also graduated as a registered nurse and midwife and has post-registration qualifications in intensive care nursing.

In addition to her nursing work, Patricia practised as a barrister in Sydney prior to commencing employment with the NSW Nurses Association in 1980. The majority of that time Patricia was the elected General Secretary. She was also elected Federal President of the Australian Nursing Federation.

In 1995 Patricia was elected to the Legislative Council of the NSW Parliament on behalf of the Australian Labor Party. In 1997 she returned to the law and was appointed a Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW. In 1999 Patricia was appointed Chief Magistrate of NSW.

In 2002 Patricia was appointed a Deputy President of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission and a judge of the Industrial Court of NSW. She retired from that position in 2009.

From 2010 until 2012, Patricia was Chair of the Board of NSW Justice and Forensic Mental Health Services and in 2013 she was appointed part-time Deputy President and Member of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal.

In 1995, Patricia was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to Nursing.

She is the original author (and now co-author) of the book "Law for Nurses and Midwives", currently in its eighth edition.