Budjiti woman Kathleen Wincen has established an Aboriginal-owned and led legal practice to improve access to affordable, culturally safe legal assistance across regional and remote Queensland.

Born in Quilpie in South West Queensland, Ms Wincen is the founder, managing director and legal practitioner director of Budjala Legal and Advocacy Services.

Her experience spans Aboriginal legal services, executive leadership and community advocacy, with the new practice bringing together her professional background and connection to the communities where she grew up.

The independent private firm aims to support people facing financial, geographical and other barriers to legal assistance.

Ms Wincen wants access to legal support to extend beyond a person's circumstances.

"Throughout my legal and executive leadership career, I have witnessed the barriers people face when trying to access timely, affordable and appropriate legal assistance.

"Access to justice should not depend on your postcode, your income or your background," Ms Wincen said.

"Everyone deserves the opportunity to obtain quality legal assistance when they need it most."

Services available to people of all cultural backgrounds

Budjala provides assistance in family law, domestic and family violence, child protection, Victim Assist, wills and estate planning, and property law.

While Aboriginal-owned and led, its services are available to people of all cultural backgrounds.

A focus is the unmet legal needs of the "missing middle", individuals and families who may not qualify for Legal Aid or other publicly funded assistance but cannot readily afford conventional private legal fees.

The practice aims to offer an additional pathway through flexible and sustainable fee arrangements.

Ms Wincen has identified affordability as a barrier for people who fall between existing assistance and private representation.

"Too often, people find themselves in a position where they earn too much to qualify for publicly funded legal assistance but not enough to comfortably afford private legal representation," she said.

"We believe there is an opportunity to provide a different model of legal service delivery — one that balances affordability, professional excellence and long-term sustainability.

"Budjala has been established to help provide that alternative."

Plans for expansion

The firm's service area covers the Darling Downs, South Burnett, Maranoa and South West Queensland.

Communities include Toowoomba, Warwick, Cherbourg, Murgon, Kingaroy, Roma, St George, Cunnamulla, Eulo, Quilpie, Thargomindah and Eromanga.

An office is planned for Charleville in the coming months, providing another regional base to support communities across the South West.

The expansion forms part of a broader commitment to practical legal services that respond to the distances and limited availability of assistance outside metropolitan centres.

For Ms Wincen, establishing services closer to home reflects her connection to the region.

"I'm a Quilpie girl, and South West Queensland is my home and will always be an important part of who I am," she said.

Budjala's approach also centres on helping people feel respected and supported while navigating the legal system, including during family breakdown, domestic and family violence and other life challenges.

The practice aims to give clients space to ask questions, understand their rights and explore their options.

Ms Wincen wants that approach to shape clients' experiences of seeking assistance.

"Our approach is about people," she said.

"It is about ensuring that individuals and families feel heard, respected and supported when navigating the legal system.

"Seeking legal assistance can be overwhelming, particularly when people are experiencing family breakdown, domestic and family violence or other significant life challenges."

Budjala intends to complement publicly funded providers, community legal centres and specialist services by offering another option, particularly for people ineligible for publicly funded representation.

It plans to build relationships with local organisations, domestic and family violence services, health and community providers, government agencies and professional referral networks.

Those partnerships are intended to strengthen referral pathways across regional and remote areas, where no single organisation can meet every legal need.

'We want to work alongside existing services... and contribute to practical solutions'

Ms Wincen sees collaboration as part of improving access.

"We want to work alongside existing services, strengthen referral pathways and contribute to practical solutions that help people access the legal assistance they need," she said.

Beyond service delivery, establishing Budjala represents a commitment to Aboriginal leadership and business ownership within the legal sector.

Ms Wincen wants to build a sustainable Aboriginal-owned business that contributes to communities while providing legal services to everyone.

The practice is guided by the values of justice, healing, leadership and community, with its development grounded in her experience of the barriers facing families outside major cities.

Her goal is to build trust through a practice that understands those circumstances.

"We want to build a practice that people trust, one that understands the challenges facing families and communities and is committed to providing quality legal support," Ms Wincen said.

"Our vision is simple: access to justice for all."

Those seeking legal assistance or wanting to learn more about Budjala's services can contact Ms Wincen on 0430 941 403 or email [email protected].