McNiff Bequest
The University of Melbourne has established the Francine V. McNiff Chair in Criminology as part of a significant donation of $4 million by former staff member and Magistrate, Ms Francine McNiff.

Overview
The University of Melbourne has established the Francine V. McNiff Chair in Criminology – a first for the institution – as part of a significant donation of $4 million by former staff member and Magistrate, Ms Francine McNiff.
Professor Alison Young has been appointed in this role.
This Chair stands at the forefront of teaching and research in criminal justice and human rights law.
Professor Young said the appointment would enable her to expand the teaching of criminology and foster increased engagement with academics internationally and with the criminal justice profession.
She plans to contribute to public discussions about issues like graffiti and street art, which challenge the regulation of public space in property law and criminal law, and tend to be ‘hyper-criminalised’ as a result.
Ms Francine McNiff passed away in April 2015. She had a high profile career in the Law as the first female Judicial Officer in Victoria. A published author, she retired from her position as a Children’s Court Magistrate in 1987.
More information
Major gift: Chair in Criminology