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
ATSILS’ 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.
Wills
Enduring Powers of Attorney
Binding Nominations for Superannuation
Big thanks to Deadly Choices for having us and organising such a wonderful event.#ATSILS #DeadlyChoices #QuandamookaCountry #CommunityLegalEducation #Elders #WillsAndEstates
This 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.
ATSILS 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! 🙏
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.
The inaugural Burdekin Community Legal Services Expo in Ayr marked a significant step in connecting more North Queensland regional and remote communities with vital legal support. Hosted by the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre (BNC) and initiated by the North Queensland Regional Legal Assistance Forum (NQRLAF), the event brought together legal service providers from the Townsville region and local residents to raise awareness about the range of services available and to improve access to free legal services in surrounding towns. The strong turnout and collaboration highlighted the power of community-driven solutions in bridging the access to justice gap experienced by these communities.
Paige Ryan and Courtney Curnow from our Townsville team were proud to be among the many legal representatives present. In addition to ATSILS attendees from organizations like ADA Law, First Nations Women’s Legal Services Qld Inc, North Queensland Women’s Legal Service, Legal Aid Queensland, Townsville Community Law, and the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service provided valuable information on a wide range of legal areas, including criminal, family, and civil law.
The event’s success was a testament to the strong support from the BNC staff and the dedicated stakeholders of NQRLAF, all of whom committed their time and energy to making it a positive and informative experience for the community.
Last month, members of our Community Legal Education (CLE) Team (Kate Greenwood and Paige Ryan) participated in the highly successful Mt Isa Yarn Up (Licensing Muster) from July 22-24. Hosted by the First Nations Justice Office (FNJO), the event was the largest to date, attracting a record 418 community members who sought assistance from a wide range of essential services over the three days.
Hey, Mount Isa! Come and enjoy a free Kup Murri at the Mount Is Recovery Services Centre (MIRS) and learn more about your legal rights.
Lawyers from ATSILS, Legal Aid Qld and the Central Queensland Community Legal Centre will be present to provide information to the community. This event is warmly supported by MIRS, Jimaylya Topsy Harry Centre and Centacare Mount Isa.
Our CLE Team recently participated in the Community Services Yarn Up Day at Les Stewart Snr Sporting Complex in Cherbourg, on beautiful Wakka Wakka Country. The event was an initiative of the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council in partnership with the First Nations Justice Office.
Pree Sharma, Legal Practitioner, Law Reform and Community Legal Education, represented ATSILS, providing free legal advice and/or referrals for community members who stopped by for assistance.
ATSILS joined other officers from the Indigenous Driver Licensing Unit at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, BlueCard Services, SPER, Births, Deaths and Marriages, Services Australia, QSuper, South Burnett CTC, Link Up, Murgon Aboriginal Family Legal Services Qld, Barambah Local Justice Group, Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion, and many others to provide essential services all in the one place for the community. It was a wonderful community event with much engagement, and we look forward to participating in the next one.
