STEP Western Australia

About STEP Western Australia

The increase in the size and complexity of trusts and estates in Western Australia coupled with a net inflow of migrants from other jurisdictions indicates that the need for specialist services in this area will increase. Yet, the pool of experienced practitioners is small and there is potential for the quality of educational opportunities to be enhanced. For this reason, in 2009 a branch of STEP was established in Western Australia.

STEP Western Australia was launched on 22 July 2009 by French CJ of the High Court of Australia, Martin CJ of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and Gzell J of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Chairman of STEP New South Wales.

STEP Western Australia has received great support from the trusts and estate planning community in Western Australia and currently has 85 members. Our members are a mixture of accountants and lawyers.

Upcoming Events

The Estate and Trust Divide, Lawyers and Clients Beware - 29 September 2020

Educational Events

The Events Program is available on STEP Australia website.

STEP Western Australia hold educational events on a monthly basis (excluding January and June). These events cover a wide range of topics within the fields of trusts and estates. The educational events are traditionally held on a Wednesday or Thursday evening around the middle of the month, depending on the availability of the speaker. The cost of attending the educational events held by STEP Western Australia is discounted for members. Attendees at the events are encouraged to provide feedback to STEP Western Australia, including suggestions for future topics. 

Following each event, STEP Western Australia apply to the Legal Practice Board to have the event recognised as a CPD event and attendees are advised of the outcome of the application in due course.

Links with other organisations

STEP Western Australia have links with a number of organisations, including the following:

• Supreme Court of Western Australia’s Probate Committee

Susan Fielding, past Chair of STEP Western Australia, is the STEP representative on the Supreme Court of Western Australia’s Probate Committee. The Probate Committee recently sought comments from STEP Western Australia in relation to a proposed new practice direction.

• Murdoch University

STEP Western Australia sponsor a prize awarded by Murdoch University to the student with the best overall essay mark for both LAW345 Succession and LAW351 Equity and Trusts.

Resources

STEP Western Australia’s Resources page contains the following links:

• Copies of the STEP Western Australia newsletter which is published every three months.
• Copies of papers presented at our previous events with the consent of the presenter.
• Links to websites of interest.

Contacts

You can contact us by email on: western.australia@step.org

• Mr Jim O'Donnell  TEP, Branch Chair
• Ms Loreena Gillon  TEP, Branch Vice Chair
• Ms Claire Hawke-Gundill  Branch Secretary
• Ms Sarah Walton  TEP, Branch Treasurer
• Ms Danielle Bechelet  Branch Committee Member
• Mrs Janene Bon  TEP, Branch Committee Member
• Ms Jennifer Bruce  TEP, Branch Committee Member
• Mr Andrew Davies  TEP, Branch Committee Member
• Ms Claire Hawke-Gundill  Branch Committee Member
• Mr Neil Henderson  TEP, Branch Committee Member
• Mr Grahame Young  TEP, Branch Committee Member
• Ms Janelle Walsh  Branch Administrator

Members in Western Australia

Find STEP members in Western Australia using the Member Search: Search now