Our Ipswich office making sure their local community has a voice!
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Our Ipswich office making sure their local community has a voice!

Out in our Ipswich office, Regional Manager Kevin Rose invites local elders & respected persons to speak to our Ipswich team at the end of every staff meeting.

Making sure the local community has a voice and staying in touch with grassroots people is vital to informing our cultural proficiency and ensuring our legal service delivery is responsive to local community needs.

Well done Kevin and all the team in Ipswich.

 

 

MEDIA RELEASE: ATSILS (QLD) legal and community legal education service delivery to cease in the Torres Strait & Northern Peninsula Area.
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MEDIA RELEASE: ATSILS (QLD) legal and community legal education service delivery to cease in the Torres Strait & Northern Peninsula Area.

Date: 13th April 2021

ATSILS (QLD) legal and community legal education service delivery to cease in the Torres Strait & Northern Peninsula Area.

  

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd – ATSILS wishes to advise that it will no longer be delivering legal assistance and community legal education services to communities throughout the Torres Strait Region and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) from the end of the current funding agreement 30 June 2021.

For the past 10 years the ATSILS team has worked tirelessly to ensure some of the most remote communities in Australia have access to justice under a funding arrangement with the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA).

ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy said, “since 2011 we have built strong relationships with the community, courts and broader social services sector to address and advocate for not only the legal needs of our clients, but also the root causes as to why they need our services.”

“As the primary legal service provider in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area for the last 10 years, we are proud of the work we have done in improving access to justice for communities across this remote region. Our staff who have worked there can hold their heads up high with the legacy they leave.”

“I wish the communities of the Torres Strait and NPA regions all the best for the future and I would like to praise the diligent commitment of Regional Manager C’Zarke Maza and his team for making a positive difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the quality work they’ve done for many years. I would also like to thank the TSRA and other stakeholders in the region for their support and collaboration in assisting us to ensure better access to justice for people in these regions.”

“Our focus will remain on ensuring our clients in the region receive the same quality services until the end of our current contract (June 30, 2021) and we will work with the TSRA and the new service provider to ensure a smooth transition period prior to the end of June,” Mr Duffy said.

Download Media Release [PDF]

ATSILS Temporary Office Closures – Greater Brisbane COVID-19 response arrangements. March 2021
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ATSILS Temporary Office Closures – Greater Brisbane COVID-19 response arrangements. March 2021

Please note ATSILS Brisbane, Ipswich, Beenleigh, Cleveland, and Strathpine offices will be closed from 5pm Monday 29/03/2021 until 5pm Thursday 01/04/2021 AEST.

Our legal practitioners and staff will still be available by phone during this time.

If you have an appointment with ATSILS staff or were scheduled to attend court during this time please contact your relevant office for advice: www.atsils.org.au/contact

 

Changes to Court Arrangements
Magistrates Courts – Greater Brisbane COVID-19 response arrangements. View Magistrate Courts Response Arrangements

Due to the Greater Brisbane #COVID lockdown, refer to the following Supreme and District Court arrangements for #Brisbane, #Beenleigh and #Ipswich:View District and Supreme Courts Response Arrangements

 

Contact ATSILS:
www.atsils.org.au/contact

Sorry Business and Funeral – COVID-19 Updated for Information
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Sorry Business and Funeral – COVID-19 Updated for Information

Sorry Business and other cultural activities are very important. But it is more important to keep Elders — and others who are already ill — safe by following the restrictions around gatherings.

For the latest information and guidelines please visit: https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/coronavirus/sorry-business-funerals

 

Facebook Page Restrictions
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Facebook Page Restrictions

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) LTD – ATSILS (QLD) regrets informing our clients, communities, and partners that today our Facebook page has been restricted by Facebook as part of their decision to block publishers and users in Australia from viewing or sharing news articles. We are working to have the page reinstated and believe this is only a temporary measure. 

The snap decision by Facebook today aims to put pressure on the Federal Government over proposed new laws that would force tech companies to pay news companies for content. Unfortunately, their broad action has seen many organizations beyond news publishers inadvertently ‘caught in the net’ of restricted sites. This includes our National peak body (NATSILS), legal services in other states, a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media, health and community services, key domestic and family prevention campaigns, and more.

It is deeply concerning that during a global pandemic and at a time where our communities are facing unprecedented health, legal, and human rights issues, that we have been censored along with the many other affected organisations that share critical emergency, health and legal resources on Facebook’s platform.

Facebook is an important part of our communication and engagement strategy with communities and partner organisations and we hope to rectify the situation as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience and encourage everyone to visit our website, Twitter and LinkedIn pages for ATSILS updates in the interim.

Web: www.atsils.org.au
Twitter: www.twitter.com/atsils 
LinkedIn: www.linkedIn.com/company/atsils

 

For more information on this issue:

Indigenous media organisations reeling after Facebook bans sharing Australian news sites | NITV (sbs.com.au)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-18/facebook-news-ban-what-just-happened-post-zuckerberg/13166710 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy International Human Rights Day!
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Happy International Human Rights Day!

Human Rights DayOn this day in 1948 the members of the United Nations General Assembly, including Australia, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Fast forward to 2020, and in Queensland we now live in a State that has committed to putting people first through the introduction of the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019.

The historic Queensland Human Rights Act 2019 introduced by the Palaszczuk State Government draws on international human rights norms and recognises that every person has human rights and the right to enjoy them without discrimination.

Under the Act the distinct cultural rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are protected and Queensland is the first Australian jurisdiction to specifically list this right in legislation.

Understand your rights!

To access resources designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples visit The Queensland Human Rights Commission website.

https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/your-rights/for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people

Putting People First

View the first Annual Report on the operation of the Queensland Human Rights Act

https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/29534/Human-Rights-Act-Annual-Report-2019-20.pdf

Murri Court – Explainer Video from QSAC.
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Murri Court – Explainer Video from QSAC.

Learn more about Murri Court with this great new explainer video from the Queensland Sentencing and Advisory Council. 

The Murri Court delivers a culturally appropriate court process that respects and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

It is a combination of support, action and ownership that sees Elders and Respected people from the community work closely with the Murri Court magistrates, the defendant and their legal representatives to help keep families together and enable offenders to make better choices by addressing the underlying issues that contribute to their offending.

Doing Justice Differently focuses on informing Queenslanders about the specialist courts and programs. For more information visit:

https://www.sentencingcouncil.qld.gov.au/about-sentencing/doing-justice-differently/murri-court 

Licensing Muster Event – Bamaga (18th August 2020)
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Licensing Muster Event – Bamaga (18th August 2020)

NPA Licensing Muster – (held in conjunction with the Licensing Mob)
Bamaga – (18th of August at 8am – 4pm)
 
Licence Muster events provide remote communities with access to a range of licensing, registration and ID services! Whether you need help with your registration & licence renewals, photo ID cards or you need a to sort out a SPER debt, there will be a deadly team of cross agency professionals there to help you!
 
The NPA Licensing Muster Initiative is a cross-agency collaborative initiative of the following:
 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS)
Queensland Police Service
NPA Community Justice Group
Licensing Mob (Department of Transport and Main Roads)
NPA Family and Community Services
 
View Event Flyer:
The NPA Licensing Muster Initiative is a cross-agency collaborative initiative of the following:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services QLD (ATSILS)
Queensland Police Service
NPA Community Justice Group
Licensing Mob (Department of Transport and Main Roads)
NPA Family and Community Services.
Thanks for all your support!
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Thanks for all your support!

Black Lives Matter - Donate to ATILS

Following the recent events and widespread/global coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement, the organisation has been in receipt of many donations and messages of support for the work we do for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their families in Queensland.

For this we are very grateful and would like to sincerely thank each individual donor.

Your kind contribution will be utilised in  the following ways:

  • Care packages for clients in our Throughcare program which assists clients coming out of the criminal justice system to re-integrate into mainstream society – examples of items in a package include food items and clothing;
  • Community Legal education services – creating awareness  and education programs for our community across the state covering topical issues faced in each region and informing the community of their rights within the criminal justice system;
  • Public sector monitoring services – monitoring the progress of implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody as well as ongoing Deaths in custody matters;
  • Other day to day case costs and client support services provided by our offices across the state.

A full accounting for the utilisation of funds will be posted online at the end of the financial year 2020/2021.

Thank you again for your generous support.

Shane Duffy
Chief Executive Officer

MABO Day Celebration 2020 Are Going Virtual
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MABO Day Celebration 2020 Are Going Virtual

MEDIA RELEASE: SEQ MABO DAY WORKING GROUP: Celuia Mabo, Nancy Bamaga, Charles Passi, Leon Filewood, Murray Saylor, Daniel Tapau

MABO DAY CELEBRATIONS 2020 ARE GOING VIRTUAL!

We give our Love & Respect to the Traditional Owners, Custodians, Elders across these Lands

Due to the COVID-19, South East Queensland Mabo Day Celebrations are going VIRTUAL!

The MABO DAY CELEBRATIONS 2020 Facebook page will be the main portal for all events planned as a part of National Reconciliation Week. https://www.facebook.com/MaboDayCelebrations2020/

MABO DAY, on Wednesday June 3rd 2020, falls at the end of Reconciliation Week. The South East Queensland Mabo Day Working Group have partnered with National Reconciliation Week, Reconciliation Queensland (RQI), Arts Front, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Teralba Park Stolen Generations Support Group Inc, Digi Youth Arts and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to bring MABO DAY CELEBRATIONS 2020 – 28th Anniversary online.

 

Virtual Events include:  

Arts Front in conversation with Flo Watson OAM – Chairperson & Elder of Teralba Park Stolen Generations Support Group,

The Mabo Day Webinar with speakers including Charles Passi, Dr Rose Elu, Kevin Smith and Hannah Duncan

#MDC2020 Virtual Gathering with performances byJessie Lloyd, Rochelle Pitt, Chris Tamwoy and a very special shout out from the three-time Olympian and NBA Champion, Patty Mills

Digi Youth Arts bringing the voices of Torres Strait Islander youth to the front with a very special Mabo Day Virtual Event.

 

Please find the Media Release attached for the MABO DAY CELEBRATIONS 2020.

#MDC2020 – MEDIA RELEASE 2020

#MaboDay #MDC2020 #NRW2020 #InThisTogether

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Nancy Bamaga: SEQ Working Group: 0412 885 501 | nancy@bamagaproductions.com.au

Busty Beatz:  Social Media Co-ordinator on behalf of SEQ Mabo Day Working Group | 0404 406 645 | busty@hotbrownhoney.com