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.
A celebration of the achievement and dedication of the great team at ATSILS.
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.
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.
A big congratulations to Tim and Trevor from our Maroochydore office who were presented with certificates of appreciation for their hard work and dedication to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and Murri Court in the Caboolture region over a period of many years. The certificates were awarded by the Caboolture Justice Group, Buranga Widjung and Trevor was also presented with a Murri Court sash as seen in the picture.
Our great team at the Maroochydore Office deliver Family, Civil and Criminal law services in the Sunshine Coast and Caboolture area and work hard to ensure the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community have better access to quality legal services in the region.
Respect for Lore, Law & the road to deadly futures today at the Gold Coast Family Fun Day on the traditional lands of the Kombumerri people.
A great day had by our Gold Coast team who joined other Indigenous service providers connecting with community and celebrating rich and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements of the region.
#NAIDOC2016 Yugambeh Country – Respect 🙂
NAIDOC Toowoomba
Yesterday staff from our Toowoomba office enjoyed a great day out at the local NAIDOC Community Day. Kevin, Deb, Tia and Chelsea did a fantastic job running the ATSILS Stall and gave away plenty of goodies and great info packs aimed at helping locals better understand their legal rights, ATSILS range of legal services available and how to get help when needed.
It was a great opportunity to engage with the future on Giabal land, helping our youth better understand which way with regards to their legal rights.
A fantastic kick off to NAIDOC celebrations last Friday on the traditional lands of the Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi people.
The team from our Maroochydore office joined local elders and community for a flag raising ceremony at Caboolture Town Square as part of the 2016 Moreton Bay Regional Council NAIDOC Week festivities.
ATSILS had an information stall at the event and staff enjoyed the opportunity to mingled with local community..
A moving Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony included traditional dance by the Gubbi Gubbi Dance Troup, as well as stories & song in line with this years theme of Song Lines – the living narrative of our nation.
Congratulations to Andrew Hackett our Director of Criminal Law on his appointment as one of the three new magistrates in Queensland by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath for Redcliffe.
Andrew is a highly respected lawyer and he possesses all the legal skill, knowledge and experience needed to excel in this vital role.
We wish him all the best for future and thank him for all the great contributions he’s made at ATSILS in delivering the highest quality legal services to our people.
We know he’ll be a welcome addition to the Magistrate Court in Queensland.
View Media Release:
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/4/29/attorneygeneral-appoints-new-magistrates
QLS praises appointment of reputable magistrates for Queensland’s busiest court:
http://www.qls.com.au/About_QLS/News_media/News/QLS_praises_appointment_of_reputable_magistrates_for_Queensland%E2%80%99s_busiest_court
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 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.
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 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.
Proud 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.