“With the help of Professor Tania Leiman, Dean of Law at Flinders University, the Matthews Lawyers Disability Law Scholarship was created to address those barriers.”
The scholarship is already making a meaningful difference to its first recipient, second-year Law student Louis Umlauf, who manages significant challenges with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), while also working to support himself during his studies.
“I was only diagnosed with ADHD in late 2024,” says Louis.
“Keeping up with everything can feel overwhelming, but I’ve been learning to put better systems in place and to be realistic about what I can manage.”
One tangible improvement to support his studies has been purchasing his own laptop computer, thanks to the Matthews Lawyers Disability Law Scholarship.
“Before that, I was relying on my late grandfather’s desktop at home, a tablet in class, and computers at university,” he explains.
“I was constantly logging in, reopening things and working around the tablet’s limitations, which made studying really inefficient.
“Having my own laptop has completely changed how I study. I can work wherever I need to, with far less frustration and more focus on learning.”
The scholarship has also enabled Louis to access ADHD coaching, which has significantly improved his study methods and efficiency.
“The scholarship has made a massive difference to my confidence and wellbeing,” says Louis.
“It’s shown me that I’m not doing this on my own – there are people who believe in students like me and want us to succeed.”
Eugenia understands Louis’ challenges firsthand. When she began her studies at Flinders University in 1985, she struggled academically due to undiagnosed learning difficulties.
Through the care and support of lecturers – particularly the late Professor Don De Bats and Dr Greg Tobin – she completed a Bachelor of Arts, which opened pathways to further study, including Law.
Today, Eugenia is the principal of leading Adelaide Hills law firm Matthews Lawyers. She is keen to support the community through her work.
“I am passionate about service to the community and being able to help someone with a legal problem.”
“Being able to make a positive contribution to students at Flinders through financial support, mentorship and advice is rewarding,” says Eugenia.
Inspired by Flinders University’s Chair in Forensic DNA Technology, Professor Adrian Linacre, Eugenia has now announced a second scholarship: the $5,000 Matthews Lawyers Disability Forensic Science Scholarship, designed to support Forensic Science students living with a disability.
“Good forensic science is critical to the criminal justice system – without it, outcomes could be flawed,” says Eugenia.
“Because of my learning difficulties, particularly with STEM subjects, I never thought I could ever contribute to science. But with the right support, I would have had more academic options – and that’s what these scholarships are about.”
Eugenia believes supporting students living with disability is vital and she is proud of the impact these scholarships will have on enabling students to achieve their goals.
“These two scholarships will open learning opportunities for students who, through no fault of their own, have difficulty demonstrating their academic capability,” she says.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to shine. Students with learning disabilities just need a little support to show their brilliance.”
For Louis, the scholarship is helping to turn a long-held ambition into reality.
“I chose to study Law because I’ve seen people up against oppressive systems,” he says.
“I want to understand how those systems work - where they help people and where they fail – and to use this knowledge to make a real difference through legal practice or policy work.”
