We are seeking a qualified IP attorney, trade marks attorney, or senior law student under supervision with demonstrated knowledge of Australian trade mark law to assist with the registration and protection of the CWA's intellectual property assets.

This is time-sensitive. The CWA is currently engaging with federal government and parliamentary processes and requires IP protection to be in place before this work proceeds further.

WHAT WE NEED HELP WITH

1. Certification mark registration The Southern Cross Mark is the CWA's provenance certification mark for cloth physically milled in Australia by known makers to declared standards — modelled on the Harris Tweed Orb (registered under the Harris Tweed Act 1993, UK). We require advice on registering the Southern Cross Mark as a certification mark under the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), and assistance preparing and filing the application with IP Australia.

2. Defensive trade mark filing — CWI™ The Cultural Workforce Index™ (CWI™) is a proprietary measurement instrument developed by the CWA. We require a defensive trade mark application filed as a matter of priority to protect this asset before further public disclosure.

3. IP audit and strategy advice A brief review of the CWA's existing IP assets — including the sector name (Cultural Work & Provenance Sector), measurement suite (DCL Index, ILV Index, CWI™, SEPM), certification pathways (CCP, CCA designations), and policy frameworks — to identify priority registration and protection actions.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The right person will have: — Admission as a solicitor or registered trade marks attorney in Australia, or be a final-year law student under the supervision of an admitted practitioner — Working knowledge of trade mark prosecution under the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), specifically certification marks (Part 17) — Ability to advise on the distinction between standard trade marks and certification marks and the appropriate registration pathway for each asset — An understanding of, or genuine interest in, cultural IP, provenance frameworks, or policy-adjacent legal work

Experience with Indigenous cultural IP frameworks, geographic indications, or cultural heritage law is highly regarded but not required.

WHAT THIS IS NOT

This is not a general legal volunteer role. We are not looking for assistance with contracts, employment law, or corporate structure. We need a specialist who can file and advise on trade mark and certification mark strategy specifically.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The CWA is building infrastructure that does not currently exist in Australia — a certification and provenance framework for cultural work modelled on international precedents including Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (1950) and the Harris Tweed Act 1993. The IP assets being protected here are the foundation of a proposed Australian Cultural Work & Provenance Act currently before the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee.

This is an opportunity to contribute to work of genuine national policy significance at an early and formative stage.