What we have been up to in Geelong
Kokoda Trek with Geelong Youth Engagement to support young people’s mental health
Kylie Barnes, Nicholes Family Lawyers’ head of marketing and client engagement, will be walking the Kokoda Trek with the Geelong Youth Engagement in September 2026!
Kylie is excited to announce that she will be volunteering this year as a mentor with the Geelong Youth Engagement (GYE). The GYE is an amazing organisation that transforms the lives of young people in the local Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast communities by empowering them to achieve their full potential.
Each year, the GYE organises for up to 24 young people to undertake the 96km Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Students are accompanied on the trek by mentors from various organisations in our community, and these relationships, together with the experience of the trek itself, have the power to change these young people’s lives.
In September this year, Kylie will be joining the GYE team as a mentor (fully self-funded). Nicholes Family Lawyers are proud to be supporting Kylie’s terrific work by covering one third of the cost for a student participant, and now she is asking for the public’s help in raising the remaining $5,000 needed to cover a young person’s participation costs in this life changing experience.
Please get behind Kylie and this great organisation and donate via her GoFundMe page.
Click here to donate: Fundraiser by Kylie Barnes : Geelong Youth Engagement Kokoda Program
New podcast series: Law & Life Geelong
We are thrilled to launch our new podcast series, Law and Life—brought to you by our Geelong office. This series provides a platform for local businesses and professionals to share how their expertise intersects with, and supports, family law matters.
Listen to our recent episodes below:
Episode 1: Law & Life Geelong: With Simon Cammiss from Wealthyer
Episode 2: Law & Life Geelong: With Sarah Daly from Loan Market
Epsiode 3: Law & Life Geelong: With Andrea Thomas from Wills and Succession Lawyers
Episode 4: Law & Life Geelong: With Michael Simms from Quantum Buyers Agents
Episode 5: Law & Life Geelong: With Jamie Hyndman and Molly Hyndman from Tribe Financial
Episode 6: Law & Life Geelong: With Sarah-Jayne Dureya from Happy Minds Psychology
Episode 7: Law & Life Geelong: With Andrea Hooper from Simplify Separation & Divorce
Episode 8: Law & Life Geelong: With Jesse Diggins from Strength Psychology
Episode 9: Law & Life Geelong: With Ryan Watson from Tribeca Financial
December 2025 – Geelong Youth Engagement Breakfast
Partner Bec Dahl, Practice Manager Nick Woods, and Head of Marketing & Client Engagement Kylie Barnes, attended the Geelong Youth Engagement (GYE) annual breakfast to celebrate the incredible work GYE completed in 2025. This event significantly marked GYE’s biggest attendance yet with 300 people. The event was MC’d by Nine News’ Gillian Lantouris.
It is always inspiring to hear from GYE’s Chief Executive Officer Andy Brittain. Nicholes Family Lawyers are proud to be a long-term supporter of GYE and the incredible work that they do.
Read more about the life-changing work of the GYE, and how you can help support them at https://geelongyouthengagement.org.au/
GYE’s Chief Executive Officer, Andy Brittain
November 2025 – Barwon Health Foundation
Managing Partner, Sally Nicholes, and Partner, Nadine Udorovic, were proud to support the Barwon Health Foundation as part of the 2025 Girls on Track initiative.
Sally Nicholes, Shannon Landers, Nadine Udorovic and Stefi Celia
October 2025 – Geelong Youth Engagement Ladies Day Lunch
Nicholes Family Lawyers were delighted to attend the annual Geelong Youth Engagement (GYE) Ladies Day Lunch on Friday 24 October.
GYE works to enhance outcomes for ‘at-risk’ youth in a range of innovative, highly effective and life-changing ways by encouraging engagement with education, employment and family; increasing youth confidence; building resilience; creating engagement; and increasing self-belief.
It was inspiring and humbling to hear from GYE Chief Executive Officer Andy Brittain and the young, brave children whose lives have been transformed by their work with the organisation.
Nicholes Family Lawyers are proud to be a long-term supporter of GYE.
To read more about the life-changing work of the GYE, and to be inspired by the young people in the organisation, go to https://geelongyouthengagement.org.au/
GYE CEO Andy Brittain and Nicholes Family Lawyers Head of Marketing & Client Engagement Kylie Barnes
August 2025 – Geelong Small Business Festival
As part of the 2025 Geelong Small Business Festival, Partner Bec Dahl presented a live online session “Implementing Paid Domestic and Violence Leave in the Workplace”.
The webinar provides an overview of family and domestic violence, the process for requesting paid leave and how to support affected staff.
We are proud to be involved in the Geelong Small Business Festival, which supports the growth and resilience of local businesses by providing access to expert knowledge and practical tools.
June 2025 – HerFinancial Network Geelong Event
Nicholes Family Lawyers enjoyed attending the HerFinancial Network Geelong event last week in collaboration with P&L Business Partners and IPN Valuers, and supported by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The morning tea included a panel of wonderful women including Claire Richards, Partner at KPMG, Shannon Landers, Co-Owner and Partner at Neon Legal, and Jess Gulli, Financial Planner at DFP Advisory.
Additionally, attendees heard from expert speakers on the local impact of USA tariff increases and Geelong residential and commercial insights.
Managing Partner Sally Nicholes, Peter Landers of Pal Accounting, Partner Bec Dahl and Shannon Landers of Neon Legal
