Olga Pandos

Olga Pandos

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

Adelaide Law School

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Miss Olga Pandos is a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide in Medical Law, Biotechnology and Bioethics, with a particular interest in the intersection of law and science, policy and reform. In 2020, she was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of South Australia.

Using her majors in Biochemistry and Genetics, Miss Pandos explores legal and bioethical issues concerning biotechnology, genetics and therapeutic clinical interventions. Miss Pandos' research interests include bioethics, law reform and access to justice for vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal communities, persons with a disability, persons with a cognitive impairment and culturally and linguistically diverse individuals.

Since 2019, Miss Pandos has been a researcher at the South Australian Law Reform Institute. She is currently the lead researcher and project manager for the independent, statutory review of the Mental Health Act 2009 (SA). She is also a co-author of the recent statutory review into the Ageing and Adult Safeguarding Act 1995 (SA), where she provided expertise in relation to the legal and medical understandings of decision-making capacity, consent and coercion. Her expertise also covers international human rights laws and particular implications for vulnerable populations including Aboriginal communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and persons with a disability.

Prior to commencing her PhD, Miss Pandos worked as a Policy Officer for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. As part of her role, she undertook extensive research, editing and writing summaries of evidence and background and issues papers on a variety of issues including:
- Young persons with a disability in aged care;
- The impact of the aged care system on vulnerable populations;
- Advance care planning laws and policies in Australia - including Advance Care Directives, Powers of Attorney and guardianship;
- Nutrition and incontinence;
- Legal/mental capacity;
- Equal opportunity and discrimination laws and policies;
- Workforce issues - including worker qualifications and ratios;
- The Serious Incidence Response Scheme and other mechanisms for imposing sanctions; and
- Quality of life.

She also engaged in consultation with relevant experts and participated in community forums in Australia.

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2020 Pandos, O. C., Milton, A. G., Nagpal, A., Kleinig, T. J., Jannes, J., Koblar, S. A., & Hamilton-Bruce, M. A. (2020). Stroke Unit Legislation – Mandating a Uniform Standard of Care?. International Journal of Stroke, 15(2), NP6-NP7.
    DOI Scopus1
    2020 Pandos, O. C. (2020). DIY Genetic Tests: A Product of Fact or Fallacy?. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 17(3), 319-324.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1

  • Report for External Bodies
    Year Citation
    2022 Pandos, O., Williams, J., Grypma, K., Okninski, M., & Plater, D. (2022). Review of the Mental Health Act 2009 (SA): Interim Report.
    2022 Plater, D., Brunacci, A., Nicholls, H., Holt, J., Okninski, M., Pandos, O., . . . Williams, J. (2022). ‘Autonomy and Safeguarding are not Mutually Inconsistent’: A Review of the Operation of the Ageing and Adult Safeguarding Act 1995 (SA).
    2021 Plater, D., Nicholls, H., Basso, S., Brunacci, A., Holt, J., Jacobs, J., . . . Washusen, B. (2021). Providing a Voice to the Vulnerable: A study of Communication Assistance in South Australia (16). Adelaide: South Australian Law Reform Institute.
    2020 Villios, S., Plater, D., Golding, G., Pandos, O., Richards, B., Brunacci, A., . . . Nicholls, H. (2020). Valuable Instrument or Single Most Abused Legal Document in our Judicial System? A Review of the Role and Operation of Enduring Powers of Attorney in South Australia (15). Adelaide: South Australian Law Reform Institute.
    2020 Villios, S., Plater, D., Williams, J., Golding, G., Richards, B., Brunacci, A., & Pandos, O. (2020). Review of the Role and Operation of Powers of Attorney in South Australia: Discussion Paper. Adelaide.
    2019 Williams, J., Plater, D., Brunacci, A., Kapadia, S., & Oxlad, M. (2019). Abortion: A Review of South Australian Law and Practice (Part 13 Disability).

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2021 - ongoing Member Women Lawyers Association of South Australia Australia
    2021 - ongoing Member Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association Australia
    2021 - ongoing Member Cairns Society SA Australia
    2020 - ongoing Member Law Society of South Australia Australia
    2020 - ongoing Member Golden Key International Honor Society Australia
    2015 - ongoing Member Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Australia
    2015 - ongoing Co-Founder Adelaide University Asylum Seekers Association Australia
    2015 - 2018 Member Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia Australia
    2015 - 2017 Secretary University Senior College Old Scholar’s Association Australia
    2014 - ongoing Member Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law Australia

  • Event Participation
    Date Event Name Event Type Institution Country
    2022 - ongoing University of Adelaide Open Day - Adelaide Law School Panel Networking event The University of Adelaide
    2022 - ongoing Adelaide Medical School - Medico-Legal Panel Plenary or general session The University of Adelaide

  • Presentation
    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2021 - ongoing Witness Competence and Capacity: Irreconcilable Differences? The Current Topical References of the South Australian Law Reform Institute Capacity, Competence & Caution Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law Australia
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