Advocating for Change: Our Voice in the Justice System 🏛️⚖️
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Advocating for Change: Our Voice in the Justice System 🏛️⚖️

At ATSILS, our work goes beyond the courtroom. We are always working behind the scenes to challenge and change laws that disadvantage our people. 🖤💛❤️💙💚🤍
Through our Law Reform and Advocacy work, we make sure that the voices of our community are heard. We provide the evidence needed to show how laws negatively affect our people and how they can be made fairer.
We’ve recently finished several important submissions to Government, including:
🛡️ Youth Justice & Monitoring: Fighting for better ways to support our youth rather than just increasing surveillance.
🏛️ First Nations Education: Pushing for cultural safety and better outcomes for our kids in school.
⛓️ Inquiry into Incarceration: Looking at the “why” behind high rates of prison time and how to fix a broken system.
🛑 CCC Review: Holding the watchdogs accountable to ensure transparency for everyone.
This work is all about accountability and making sure the justice system becomes one that is fair, transparent, and culturally safe for all of us. 👊🏽
🔗 Read our full submissions here: https://atsils.org.au/submissions/
New CLE Resource – Expanded Police Wanding Powers (Jack’s Law) ⚖️
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New CLE Resource – Expanded Police Wanding Powers (Jack’s Law) ⚖️

Helping Mob Navigate Expanded Police Wanding Powers (Jack’s Law) ⚖️

Community safety is important, but so are your rights. ✊🏾
With the introduction of Jack’s Law, police powers in Queensland have expanded. Police can now use handheld metal detection wands to search for weapons in certain public areas without a warrant or “reasonable suspicion.”

These expanded powers can have a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. To support community, ATSILS has developed a new legal education resource to help Mob stay informed.

This video is designed to provide clear, practical guidance to community on:
📍 Where these searches happen (like transport hubs & night precincts).
✋ Your rights when being stopped for a scan.
✅ Your responsibilities during the process to keep things calm.

📺Watch the video to learn how to navigate these interactions safely.

Need Legal Support?
If you or someone you know has been charged, or if you believe you have experienced unfair treatment or discrimination during a police wanding process, we encourage you to reach out for professional legal advice.

📞 ATSILS 24/7 Free Call: 1800 012 255

Animation produced by Punchy Studio

Submission 2026 Commonwealth Consultation – First Nations Education Policy
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Submission 2026 Commonwealth Consultation – First Nations Education Policy

View our latest submission re: First Nations Education Policy Discussion Paper Consultation

Linked here: Submission-2026-Commonwealth-Consultation-First-Nations-Education-Policy-Upload-Version.pdf

For a list of all our latest legal submissions, please visit: Submissions – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd

🎥 Strengthening Pathways to Justice in the Far North 🎥
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🎥 Strengthening Pathways to Justice in the Far North 🎥

Our Cairns team is proud to be part of a critical partnership with the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC), aimed at empowering First Nations people to fully participate in the criminal justice system.

The impact of this collaboration is captured in the new film, ‘My Justice Journey’. It follows the vital work of FRC Local Commissioners—respected Elders in the Aurukun community—as they provide essential, culturally grounded support to vulnerable community members navigating the justice system.

This project is a powerful testament to the necessity of community-led solutions in achieving meaningful justice outcomes.

 

Yarning with Elders about important legal issues on beautiful Quandamooka Country!
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Yarning with Elders about important legal issues on beautiful Quandamooka Country!

ATSILS Community Legal Educations - Wills and ePOAATSILS’ lawyers Pree Sharma and Natasha Goddard recently attended the Deadly Choices Indigenous Senior Games on beautiful Quandamooka Country at Capalaba Warriors Rugby League Football Club.
The team delivered another important community legal education session to a large group of Elders, focusing on the importance of getting your affairs in order. We had a great yarn about:
📜 Wills
✍️ Enduring Powers of Attorney
💼 Binding Nominations for Superannuation
The interest was huge and many Elders provided their details to make follow-up appointments with the ATSILS Team to get their affairs sorted right away.
Remember, ATSILS can provide you with legal assistance in relation to Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Binding Nominations for Superannuation. It is a free and confidential service!
🙌 Big thanks to Deadly Choices for having us and organising such a wonderful event.

#ATSILS #DeadlyChoices #QuandamookaCountry #CommunityLegalEducation #Elders #WillsAndEstates

Empowering women at the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre through collaborative community legal education! 🤝✨
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Empowering women at the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre through collaborative community legal education! 🤝✨

ATSILS CLE TownsvilleThis week, Paige Ryan and Thomas Proctor from our Townsville office visited the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre (TWCC) to deliver a dedicated legal information session to support women in understanding their rights and responsibilities regarding vital domestic and family violence issues.

This CLE session was part of a larger, 3-week collaborative project whereby TWCC, ATSILS, Transform Lives Program, North Queensland Women’s Legal Service and the First Nations Women’s Legal Services Qld Inc joined forces to offer the women at TWCC these DFV community legal information sessions in alignment and solidarity with the 16 Days of Activism 2025.

What we covered:

🗣️ Coercive Control: Breaking down the new offences that came into effect in QLD in 2025, how to identify these behaviours, and where to get support.
View our quick guide on understanding Coercive Control

📜 Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs): Understanding DVOS , what constitutes a breach, and practical tips on how to navigate them.

View our quick guide on understanding Domestic Violence Orders

The smaller group setting provided a safe and open space for questions and genuine conversation. There was really positive feedback from the women about what they had learned from the session, and what they would like to see more of in future.

 

Community Legal Education on Quandamooka Country!
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Community Legal Education on Quandamooka Country!

Community Legal Education Quandamooka CountryATSILS legal practitioners, Pree Sharma and Enoler Robinson, had a fantastic day attending the Deadly Choices Indigenous Senior Games on beautiful Quandamooka Country at Minjerribah/Stradbroke Island last Friday. 🌴

It was great to attend the event and deliver an important community legal education session to Elders attending the games, focusing on Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney.

The Elders shared many excellent questions, leading to plenty of great yarns about the importance of getting your affairs in order. The best time to do it is right now!

Thank you to the fantastic team at Deadly Choices for organising such a wonderful event. We look forward to attending the next one! 🙏

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Homeless Connect Event

ATSILS was proud to take part in Brisbane City Council’s Homeless Connect event last week.

Homeless Connect is a fantastic initiative that brings together a wide range of community services to support people who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. From health care, housing assistance and clothing to food, haircuts and legal advice — the event offers a safe space where people can access practical support and feel connected to their community.

Pree Sharma represented the ATSILS team and provided legal advice and referrals throughout the day. Many community members doing it tough stopped by our stall to ask for help, and we were glad to assist with their legal needs and connect them with other services where appropriate.

A big thank you to Brisbane City Council for coordinating this important event and to all the organisations who came together to make a real difference.

Southern Cross University Law Students Association Careers Fair on the Gold Coast
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Southern Cross University Law Students Association Careers Fair on the Gold Coast

Yesterday, members of our Southport team had a fantastic day at the Southern Cross University Law Students Association Careers Fair on the Gold Coast! 🎓

The team enjoyed connecting with the next generation of legal professionals and providing insight into the diverse career paths available at ATSILS. It was a great opportunity to highlight our family, civil, and criminal law roles, as well as the critical support roles that work alongside our legal practitioners. ⚖️

We’re proud to offer a supportive and collaborative environment where you can truly make a meaningful difference. Join us and you’ll find great benefits like:
✅ Salary packaging
✅ Encouraged career growth with supported learning and professional development opportunities
✅ A strong statewide peer and mentor network of experienced lawyers and barristers to guide you on your justice journey.

Thanks to Arelene and all the team who attended, and to SCU Law Student Society for hosting this great event. 👏

If you’re interested in what careers are available at ATSILS view:
Our Townsville Office is Moving- (18th and 19th September)
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Our Townsville Office is Moving- (18th and 19th September)

ATSILS Townsville Move🚛📢 Our Townsville Office is Moving! 📢 🚛

We’re excited to announce our ATSILS Townsville office is relocating to a new and improved space just up the road!

The new address is: 12-20 Wills Street, Townsville QLD 4810.

This location brings us closer to the Courts and will help us better serve our community.

Key Dates to Remember:
– Thursday, 18 September & Friday, 19 September 2025: Our Townsville office will be closed as we move.

– We will operate from our new location starting Monday, September 22, 2025.

Urgent client needs: Our dedicated statewide team will be taking urgent calls to our Townville office during the move to ensure you get the help you need. For urgent criminal law matters, you can always call 1800 012 255 (24/7).

We’re so excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to welcome you to our new office!