Vulnerable Persons Project

The Vulnerable Persons Project (VPP), established by Professor Tamara Walsh, provides students with an opportunity to participate in ground-breaking research into complex social problems. The VPP recognises the particular impact that the law and legal systems have on people who are vulnerable in our society, including prisoners, people with mental illness and children in care.

Our projects are all conducted in partnership with community legal centres and non-profit organisations including the Prisoners Legal Service (PLS) and Caxton Legal Centre.

For further information, please contact Tamara Walsh.

Our projects:

  • VPP and Deaths in Custody – Student Leader: Lucy Cornwell
  • UQ/Caxton Human Rights Case Law Project – Student Leaders: Laura Rowswell and Liisa Kuru
  • Deaths in Care – Student Leader: Alithia Khor
  • Mental Health Law Project – Student Leader: Phylicia Lim

Project output

A searchable database of all publicly accessible deaths in custody in Australia.
Easy access to all published cases that refer to the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), a resource for practitioners, researchers, students and members of the public.
Comprehensive report on solitary confinement and human rights, produced in collaboration with the Prisoners Legal Service.