Recently ATSILS Communication and Sector Engagement Team met had met with Justin Giblett Coordinator of Kutta Mulla Gorinna (KMG), a deadly alternative learning program supporting and empowering our young ones to stay in contact with education and chase their dreams.
The program started in 2015 and it’s supportive and flexible approach to learning has attracted a number of disengaged/high risk youth back to an education pathway, diverted them away from the justice system and is achieving great attendance rates of between 80-90%. Despite its success however, the program has faced a constant battle in attracting regular funding and is in danger of closing its doors.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are significantly over-represented in the criminal justice system and are 24x more likely than non-indigenous juveniles to be in detention. As the QLD Government & other governments around the nation look to justice/social reinvestment solutions to address this issue, it is critical they invest and support programs like KMG already making a difference in their local community.
Justice Reinvestment is a holistic approach that see funds diverted away from prisons and towards programs that address disadvantage and the root causes of crime. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, these programs must be locally designed and community led to be effective.
KMG as a great example of a community designed and led initiative that can steer our youth away from the criminal justice system through education and create effective pathways to future employment for vulnerable kids.
Follow and support their great work here:
View Article: ‘At-risk’ kids could lose their final school’
https://www.cqnews.com.au/news/at-risk-kids-could-lose-their-final-school/3174236/#more-replies
Student Placements
Reflecting on her 3-month placement Tayleigh said that she has learnt so much about the court processes, clients and also the organisations policies, procedures and administration. She got to attend court at Pine Rivers, Sandgate and Redcliffe, and was able to accompany staff on watch house visits and take part in video link interviews with clients.
She said it was a real eye opener to witness the social disadvantage and legal issues effecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. She loved the teamwork and environment at the Strathpine Office who work tirelessly to ensure the legal rights of the local community are protected. Tayleigh said she would highly recommend a student placement with ATSILS to any individual with an interest in social justice.
Further, with Adam Chapman (pictured, Right) studying his law degree while working as our Court Support Officer, having students to assist the team supports a two-way learning approach. Mr Andrew Ferrett, our Regional Manager (pictured, Left) is an attentive, interactive and well-respected student supervisor. Also pictured is Jasmine Ross (Right of Centre) who commenced with us as a Practical Legal Training student, and now works with us.
Interested in a Student Placement with ATSILS? Find out more:
https://atsils.org.au/student-placements/
Our Latest Job Vacancies – Beenleigh/Ipswich > Mt Isa/Normanton > Murgon > Rockhampton > Toowoomba
Due to funding success, ATSILS is offering several Criminal Law opportunities in our fastest-growing regional offices.
Take a look at the vacancies we have available in – Mt Isa > Murgon > Rockhamptom > Toowoomba > Ipswich & Beenleigh
View job vacancies
Maroochydore Murri Court
Murri Court is a critical element in creating a more culturally responsive justice system. It is designed to link Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants to relative cultural and support services to help them make changes in their lives needed to break their cycle of offending.
Read More:
Murri Court in the media:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-07/murri-court-look-inside-indigenous-queensland-court/8555416
https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/kev-rose-challenge-atsils/3186508/
What is Murri Court?
Find out more about Murri Court:
http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/courts/murri-court/about-murri-court
ATSILS Managers’ Workshop
Last week our leaders from across the State came together for a 2 day Managers’ workshop in Brisbane. The Managers’ were updated on data definitions related to service provision by our Principal Legal Officer Greg; given insight into activity around Communications and Sector Engagement by Graham; and had lengthy discussions regarding recruitment practices, cultural competence and our commitment to workforce development with our CEO – Shane and Human Resources Manager – Jane.
The workshop was held with fantastic collegiate spirit and it was a great opportunity for our Regional Managers, Directors of Law and Program Managers to share ideas on service delivery needs and solutions, and stay up to date with key management policies to ensure our organisation is compliant with funding agreements and tuned to the diverse needs of our communities across Queensland.
For more ATSILS news visit:
https://www.facebook.com/atsils/
Innovative Murri learning program keeping kids out of trouble in Mackay.
Recently ATSILS Communication and Sector Engagement Team met had met with Justin Giblett Coordinator of Kutta Mulla Gorinna (KMG), a deadly alternative learning program supporting and empowering our young ones to stay in contact with education and chase their dreams.
The program started in 2015 and it’s supportive and flexible approach to learning has attracted a number of disengaged/high risk youth back to an education pathway, diverted them away from the justice system and is achieving great attendance rates of between 80-90%. Despite its success however, the program has faced a constant battle in attracting regular funding and is in danger of closing its doors.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are significantly over-represented in the criminal justice system and are 24x more likely than non-indigenous juveniles to be in detention. As the QLD Government & other governments around the nation look to justice/social reinvestment solutions to address this issue, it is critical they invest and support programs like KMG already making a difference in their local community.
Justice Reinvestment is a holistic approach that see funds diverted away from prisons and towards programs that address disadvantage and the root causes of crime. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, these programs must be locally designed and community led to be effective.
KMG as a great example of a community designed and led initiative that can steer our youth away from the criminal justice system through education and create effective pathways to future employment for vulnerable kids.
Follow and support their great work here:
View Article: ‘At-risk’ kids could lose their final school’
https://www.cqnews.com.au/news/at-risk-kids-could-lose-their-final-school/3174236/#more-replies
ATSILS Mackay Office
Our team in Mackay do a great job for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and offer quality Civil, Criminal and Family legal assistance and representation.
The team are committed to protecting and advancing the legal rights of the many mobs in the region and have a particular passion in working with community and partners to address family violence and the over-representation of our kids in the child protection system.
Mackay
If you need legal assistance you can contact the team on:
Phone: (07) 4953 4058
Address: 33 Sydney Street, Mackay 4740 (PO Box 1058)
Always remember for urgent legal assistance outside of office hours, the team in Mackay are there for clients 24/7 on our freecall legal assistance hotline: 1800 012 255
ATSILS CPD Schedule (April 2017 – March 2018)
View ATSILS CPD Schedule (2017-2018)
ATSILS Bundaberg Office
The Bundy team are committed to ensuring the local community understand their legal rights and last week, they gave up some of their valuable time to participate in the development of a series of marketing and legal education resources. The resources being developed are aimed at enhancing awareness of our broad range of services, the importance of seeking legal assistance when considering a plea of guilty or not guilty, and to help clients better navigate the legal system.
If you need legal representation or assistance the team at Bundaberg can help you with a broad range of civil, family and criminal law matters.
BUNDABERG
Services Provided: Criminal Law (predominantly), Family and Civil Law
Address: Level 1, WIN Tower, Cnr Barolin & Quay Streets, Bund. 4670 (PO Box 1709)
Phone: (07) 4152 8044
Fax: (07) 4153 2187
Always remember for urgent legal assistance outside of office hours, the team in Bundaberg are there for clients 24/7 on our freecall legal assistance hotline: 1800 012 255
ATSILS CEO on the need for a new approach to crime and punishment
ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy on ABC Speaking Out discussing the need for a new approach to crime and punishment.
“…instead of looking at our mob as the problem, look at us as the solution.”
As the Royal Commission into juvenile detention in the Northern Territory continues, legal rights advocates have called on governments to rethink their approach to criminal justice. Shane Duffy believes Justice Reinvestment could be a win-win solution for state and territory governments, as well as Indigenous communities.
Listen:
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/speakingout/shane-duffy/8389164
Sector Engagement – Bundaberg & Hervey Bay Region
Recently the Communications and Sector Engagement team met with a range of stakeholders across the justice, health, community and child protection sectors in the Wide Bay region. The team gained valuable insights into some of the significant justice issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from a range of perspectives.
Engaging regularly with community and key partners on country in the regions is vital to ensuring our service delivery is aligned with varying community needs. It’s also used as an important reference when developing marketing and legal education resources as we work to produce materials that better address the nuanced issues faced by clients in our diverse communities.