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Building capacity in our Family Law Practice

ATSILS Family Law 2015Building capacity in our Family Law Practice to better meet identified need across the state.

We welcome Lorraine Blanco (Cairns) and Juliet Walker (Brisbane) to the ATSILS Family Law team.

We are thrilled to have Lorraine Blanco (nee Namok) on board as our first Torres Strait Islander woman lawyer. Lorraine will be heading north to our Cairns office after enjoying two weeks induction in Brisbane working closely with Jennifer Ekanayake and the Family Law team. In December she is looking to undertake a circuit up to Cooktown, Wudjal Wudjal and Hopevale which will be a celebration and a form of welcome to country for her. Lorraine is a Moa Island women and has had extensive experience practicing with Legal Aid and also enjoyed significant work in the area of native title.

Juliet Walker is our newest Paralegal (Junior Legal Practitioner) in Brisbane and we congratulate her on being admitted as a solicitor just this week. Juliet completed her Arts/Law degree at UQ and she joins Jennifer and the team in Brisbane after gaining valuable experience assisting at Caxton Legal Centre, QPILCH and Kilroy & Callaghan lawyers.

From all the team welcome aboard!

Photo (Left to Right): 
Jennifer, Juliet, Lorraine, Lisa and Colette.

 

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ATSILS in North West Queensland this week

ATSILS Executive TeamThis week Shane, Greg and Graham from our Executive Team are on the ground out in North West Queensland meeting with key stakeholders and government officials around the local challenges and justice issues facing various communities in this vast region.

Today the team met with Judy Ontronen – Manager of the Cloncurry Justice Association, an important organization that supports and empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims and offenders at all stages of the legal process. It was a productive meeting focusing on strengthening relationships around community safety and crime prevention initiatives.

The team said it was a great pleasure to meet Judy and her staff. Her enthusiasm and dedication were heart warming and she is the type of person who is the heart and soul of smaller country towns.

 

 

 

 

 

ATSILS CEO Mt IsaProud Kalkadoon man and ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy back on country meeting with the Mt Isa Mayor – The Hon. Cr Tony Mcgrady Am on solutions to critical crime and justice issues affecting the community.

 

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Quick Thinking and First Aid Training Combine to Save a Young Lady’s Life: Well Done Darryl McCarthy

Darry McCarthyCourt Support, CPR and quick thinking combine at the right place and the right time to save a life.

We would like to commend the efforts of Darryl McCarthy, our Court Support Officer out in Cunnamulla. Darryl recently had to go beyond the normal call of duty to intervene in a critical situation to save a life.

Darryl was in his office printing paper work for a client when she suddenly collapsed. “I called her in and just as I handed her the pen her eyes rolled back and she nearly fell through the window,” Darry said. “At first I thought she was joking but we fell to the ground together, by the time I got to my hands and knees she had stopped breathing. I checked her pulse but there was nothing.”

Darryl responded quickly putting his first-aid training into action, beginning CPR on the lady and directing her family to call an ambulance. He persisted with CPR until the ambulance arrived and her vital signs returned. She was transferred to a hospital in Brisbane but is now at home recovering well. The young lady and her family were of course very appreciative of Darryl’s efforts.

Darryl said the first aid training he had undertaken as part of his job requirements at ATSILS made all the difference and was the main reason the situation ended well. “It provided me with the skills and confidence to act.” Darryl was happy to speak about his actions in the hope that it would give others the confidence to put their training into action and be part of a rescue if ever needed. Although understandably shaken up about the whole incident, Darryl is just happy that this young client is ok.

From all the team at ATSILS, fantastic job Darryl!

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CONGRATULATIONS to C’Zarke Maza Winner of the 2015 Trevor Christian Award

C'Zarke MazaA Big CONGRATULATIONS to C’Zarke Maza winner of the 2015 Trevor Christian Award (male).

C’Zarke is the Regional Manager of our Thursday Island office and a fitting recipient of the NATSILS “Trevor Christian Award” presented to individuals who have made an exceptional commitment to the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

C’Zarke is a descendant of the Meriam people of Murray Island in the Torres Strait and Yidinjdji people from the coast of Cairns. He has committed most of his career towards championing the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and has displayed a relentless drive in advocating for justice and equality for Australia’s First people. A most committed legal practitioner, C’Zarke works tirelessly to address the over-representation of First Nations Australians in the criminal justices system through the provision of high quality legal representation.

In 2000 he was awarded the Bundjalung Prize for his invaluable contribution to the Bundjalung Nation.

Congratulation C’Zarke you are a highly respected and valued member of the community and we are fortunate to have you as part of the ATSILS team!

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SMART MONEY Forum: Justice Reinvestment and Alternatives to Indigenous Imprisonment

SMART_Money-ForumATSILS CEO Shane Duffy was part of an esteemed group of panelists sharing views on the potential of justice reinvestment at Caxton Legal Centre’s “Smart Money” forum last night. The panel included Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda and leading advocates from the legal and community services sector.

Australia faces a human rights crisis as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates soar – Indigenous people are now 13 times more likely to go to jail than non-Indigenous persons.

The event was well attended and a great opportunity to bring further attention to these unacceptable statistics and advocate for smarter approaches to justice that can reduce imprisonment, save money and create safer communities for all. 

Take action and help ‪#‎ChangeTheRecord‬ on violence and imprisonment rates today –> http://www.changetherecord.org.au/pledge

 

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BRISBANE: Sharing our Experience of Service Delivery

Yesterday members of our Executive management team in Brisbane hosted a delegation from the Legal Aid Foundation Taiwan – including their Secretary-General.

The delegation was on a fact-finding mission to get insight on how we deliver our specialised legal services. Of particular interest were things such as the cultural competency of our staff, our quality controls and Murri Court  – (given the Indigenous population in Taiwan).

 

With the help of an interpreter the meeting proved to be great cross cultural exchange. The delegation was clearly grateful for our time and feedback, which included the provision of casework standards.

 

As a mark of appreciation the ATSILS team was presented with a special gift, a “Limpidwing Flying Fish” (“sosowowon”) crafted by a father and son team of Indigenous Taiwanese artists.

 

The amazing piece of artwork heralds from the Tao Indigenous peoples on Orchid Island (Pongso no Tao) – the only marine ethnic group of Taiwan. The flying fish is an important symbol of the Tao indigenous peoples. “The first catch in the open season will only be shared by family members of the fishermen.  All of the family members shall eat the first catch”.

 

Their delegation consisted of:

1. Attorney Mr. Wei-Shyang Chen, Secretary-General, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

2. Mr. Chih-Wei, Tsai, Board Member, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

3. Attorney Ms. Tsai-Yi Chen, Executive Secretary, Taitung Branch, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

4. Mr. Te-Yen Chou, Deputy- Director, Department of Legal Affairs, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

5. Ms. Si-Wei Huang, Deputy- Director, Department of Business & Management, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

6.Ms. Yu-Shan Chang, PHD Candidate, University College, London (translator)

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Sharing our Experience of Service Delivery

Yesterday members of our Executive management team in Brisbane hosted a delegation from the Legal Aid Foundation Taiwan – including their Secretary-General.

The delegation was on a fact-finding mission to get insight on how we deliver our specialised legal services. Of particular interest were things such as the cultural competency of our staff, our quality controls and Murri Court  – (given the Indigenous population in Taiwan).

 

With the help of an interpreter the meeting proved to be great cross cultural exchange. The delegation was clearly grateful for our time and feedback, which included the provision of casework standards.

 

As a mark of appreciation the ATSILS team was presented with a special gift, a “Limpidwing Flying Fish” (“sosowowon”) crafted by a father and son team of Indigenous Taiwanese artists.

 

The amazing piece of artwork heralds from the Tao Indigenous peoples on Orchid Island (Pongso no Tao) – the only marine ethnic group of Taiwan. The flying fish is an important symbol of the Tao indigenous peoples. “The first catch in the open season will only be shared by family members of the fishermen.  All of the family members shall eat the first catch”.

 

Their delegation consisted of:

1. Attorney Mr. Wei-Shyang Chen, Secretary-General, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

2. Mr. Chih-Wei, Tsai, Board Member, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

3. Attorney Ms. Tsai-Yi Chen, Executive Secretary, Taitung Branch, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

4. Mr. Te-Yen Chou, Deputy- Director, Department of Legal Affairs, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

5. Ms. Si-Wei Huang, Deputy- Director, Department of Business & Management, Legal Aid Foundation, Taiwan

6.Ms. Yu-Shan Chang, PHD Candidate, University College, London (translator)