Rukiya Stein

Mrs. Stein is an Accredited Witness Intermediary in the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program (CSOEP) in Sydney, Australia, working with child victims and witnesses in sexual offence matters since the CSEOP’s inception in 2016. In addition, Rukiya works as an independent Communication Intermediary with vulnerable adult suspects, defendants, victims and witnesses. Rukiya is a certified Speech and Language Pathologist with over 25 years’ experience of working with children and adults with Autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities and other communication-based disabilities. Rukiya is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Newcastle School of Law and Justice. Her thesis explores the role of the intermediary on lawyer questioning and the evidence of vulnerable people during cross-examination in the Australian criminal justice process.  She has a special interest in access to justice for vulnerable children and adults and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.