Countless reports have highlighted that we are at risk of losing another generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the justice system – but the momentum for change is building. The Change the Record Coalition today welcomed a commitment by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten MP to close the justice gap, and emphasised the […]
In the early hours of Tuesday morning (local time) Australia’s human rights record will be examined before the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva as part of its second “Universal Periodic Review” (UPR). As the world turns its attention to Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd urges the Australian government […]
Lateline’s Emma Alberici speaks with Change the Record Coalition Co-Chair & ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy and asks him what needs to be done to address the issue of Indigenous mental health, access to appropriate services and the links to over-representation of our people in the criminal justice system. Watch the full interview here: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4344050.htm
In his role as Co – Chair – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services & Change The Record Coalition, our CEO Shane Duffy speaks to Australasian Lawyer about the call for a new approach to Indigenous incarceration. “The policing methodology in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this country has […]
Building 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 […]
This 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 […]
Court 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 […]
A 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 […]
ATSILS 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 […]
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 […]