A celebration of the achievement and dedication of the great team at ATSILS.

Supporting Pathways to Legal Practice
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Supporting Pathways to Legal Practice

Image may contain: 4 people, people smilingPictured here are Melda, Sarah, Robyn and Tegan, four of our finest aspiring Indigenous lawyers from the Cairns office.

These ladies work with ATSILS across our Court Support and Paralegal roles, strengthening their commitment to social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whilst on their path to legal practice. Melda, Sarah and Robyn are well into their Law degree studies and Tegan is a recent graduate.

ATSILS is committed to supporting staff on their justice journeys and we’re keen to develop future opportunities within our workforce to ensure staff are able to progress from key support roles to legal practice within the organisation.

Our People: I work at ATSILS because?
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Our People: I work at ATSILS because?

Hear from some of our dedicated team working to change Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives for the better. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service provides innovative, professional and culturally competent legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Queensland.

Need Legal Assistance? We’re here for clients 24/7 on our free call hotline: 1800 012 255
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Need Legal Assistance? We’re here for clients 24/7 on our free call hotline: 1800 012 255

Our dedicated team have helped put together a series of short videos to give you better insight into ATSILS & the legal services we provide. Need Legal Assistance? Call ATSILS 24/7 Free Call Hotline – 1800 012 255 The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service provides innovative, professional and culturally competent legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Queensland.

Our Business – advancing and protecting the legal and human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for over 40 years.
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Our Business – advancing and protecting the legal and human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for over 40 years.

ATSILS Executive Team give insight into the organisation’s history, the critical element of cultural competence in our role and our journey into a state-wide legal service with 25 offices across Queensland.

What’s ATSILS like as an employer? Hear directly from some of our dedicated team.
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What’s ATSILS like as an employer? Hear directly from some of our dedicated team.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service provides innovative, professional and culturally competent legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people & their families across Queensland.

On the Road to Cherbourg with our Murgon Office
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On the Road to Cherbourg with our Murgon Office

This week our Director of Sector Engagement and Communications and our Prevention, Intervention and Community Legal Education Officer paid a visit to our Murgon office to spend time with the fantastic ATSILS team delivering quality services in the South Burnett region.

The team shared cake and important discussions with Cherbourg elders and the local Justice Group and it was a good opportunity to hear about some of the current justice issues facing this historic community. ATSILS shared a range of legal education resources and information about the Prisoner Throughcare Program with the group..

Working in whopping 45 degrees in the shade, it was great to see the dedicated Murgon team in action. They are a true representation of the strong commitment to community displayed by all our regional offices.

Cherbourg Justice Group
Cherbourg Justice Group
ATSILS Murgon Team
ATSILS Murgon Team
ATSILS - Court House Murgon
ATSILS - Court House Murgon
ATSILS at Murgon
ATSILS at Murgon
Cherbourg
Cherbourg
Ration Shed
Ration Shed
Prisoner Throughcare – Cultural Camps: Connection to culture & the fine art of diverting our young ones away from the justice system.
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Prisoner Throughcare – Cultural Camps: Connection to culture & the fine art of diverting our young ones away from the justice system.

Connection to culture & the fine art of diverting our young ones away from the justice system. Our Prisoner Throughcare Program is a part of the fabric of a justice reinvestment approach. Check out some of the innovative work happening in the Townsville region connecting young offenders with their culture as a foundation change and breaking the cycle of offending.

Court Support Officers – the frontline of our culturally competent service delivery
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Court Support Officers – the frontline of our culturally competent service delivery

Court Support Officers – enhancing access to justice for the most vulnerable in our communities.

In this video our dedicated team in Townsville give insight into their vital work in liaising between clients and our lawyers.

Our Court Support Officers are the heart & soul of our culturally competent service delivery. All of our Court Support Officers identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. They’re usually they’re local people with strong connection to the community who are highly skilled at engaging mob and ensuring they understand their legal rights. They work hard to break down the many barriers preventing access to justice for the most vulnerable in our communities.

Human Rights Awards – ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy named among the 5 inspiring finalists for the 2016 Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award
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Human Rights Awards – ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy named among the 5 inspiring finalists for the 2016 Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award

Shane Duffy Human Rights Awards

ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy is among the five inspiring Australians who have been named finalists for the 2016 Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award. It’s great to see his tireless commitment and leadership in advancing & protecting the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recognised.

Shane is a descendant of the Kalkadoon people of North West Queensland and has worked in human services for more than 25 years specialising in child protection, youth justice and family support. Shane has been CEO of the QLD Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service for the past 11 years and is the current Co-Chair of the Change The Record Coalition looking to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system.

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/inspiring-individuals-named-awards-finalists

Partners in Crime Prevention & Access to Justice – Townsville
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Partners in Crime Prevention & Access to Justice – Townsville

It was fantastic to meet with key stakeholders in Townsville last week as we work to strengthen productive partnerships to enhance the delivery of our quality legal assistance, specialist court representation and some of our early intervention and prevention initiatives.

Our Stakeholder Engagement team had the privilege of spending time with:

  • Jean from the Townsville Justice Group to discuss the re-establishment of Murri Court and how we can work better together to assist clients and support this important court service;
  • Melissa, Tanya and all the fantastic team at Mission Australia to discuss the critical support they provide to vulnerable kids and the success they’re having in diverting many away from further contact with juvenile justice system. A true highlight was seeing the innovative work ATSILS and Mission Australia are doing together under the current MoU in delivering cultural camps to youth at high risk of re-offending. These camps are delivered by proud Juru man and our youth Prisoner Throughcare Officer – Trevor and are designed to connect youth with culture, give them a sense of belonging and strengthen their identity as key triggers for them to start making positive changes in their lives; and
  • The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal & Advocacy Service working to combat racism, violence, poverty, sexism and discrimination of all kinds that affect the interests and aspiration of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander women.