Indigenous incarceration costs almost double price of uni education
Queensland Law Society Media Release:
Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts has called for reforms to reduce the nation’s appalling rate of indigenous imprisonment – saying it costs taxpayers almost twice as much to lock people up than provide them with an elite university education.
Mr Potts said it was time for the state and federal governments to set “aspirational targets’’ to reduce incarceration of indigenous Australians and implement strategies and policies to guarantee positive outcomes.
He said the current estimated cost of incarceration in Queensland was $66,000 per prisoner each year – while the cost of keeping a person fed, clothed, with a roof over their head and a university education was about $38,000.
Federal Productivity Commission figures from 2013/14 show the number of Indigenous Australians imprisoned was 16 times higher than non-Indigenous people.
The call follows the recent announcement by the Northern Territory Government to set justice targets aimed at halving the rate of Aboriginal imprisonment by 2030 and a call by the Law Council of Australia for state and federal intergovernmental action.
“Statistics show that it costs more to incarcerate a person for five years than it would to send them to one of Queensland’s best universities. I know how I’d rather my taxes be spent,’’ Mr Potts said.
“Courts like the Murri Court and the Drug Court have been successful in reducing reoffending and incarceration, and it is good to see them on the way back in Queensland.
“Keeping indigenous people out of the prison system through these rehabilitation measures will give them a chance at a better life – and it’s simply good economics. From our point of view, it is much better to educate than incarcerate.’’
View Media Release in Full
ATSILS CEO on addressing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Disadvantage in the Justice System
The Change The Record Coalition is a group of key organisations who have come together and developed a concrete plan for Federal, State and Territory Governments to address soaring Aboriginal imprisonment rates and high levels of experienced violence within a generation.
Listen Here:
https://radio.adelaide.edu.au/indigenous-incarceration-sha…/
View the Plan: “Blueprint for Change”:
https://changetherecord.org.au/blueprint-for-change
Change The Record – Steering Committee:
https://changetherecord.org.au/about
Community is Everything – ATSILS Principal Legal Officer talking to schools about issues & solutions re: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth detention
Last week our Principal Legal Officer was out in the community shining a light on the issues related to the high detention rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and the solutions needed to create brighter futures for our kids.
Greg presented to senior school students from around a dozen schools – hosted at the Brisbane Boys College (Toowong) as part of Amnesty International Australia‘s “Community is Everything” campaign.
There were several hundred school children and teachers in attendance and it was a great opportunity to increase awareness of critical justice issues effecting kids futures to new audiences less likely to be exposed to such challenges.
More information on the campaign can be found here:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/activist/campaign-resource/37103
JOB Vacancy: Justice Crusader needed for an exciting role in the Cape
We are looking to fill the role of Prevention, Intervention and Community Legal Education Officer in Bamaga. This is a fantastic opportunity to combine work with real adventure as you provide innovative legal education outreach to communities across the Northern Peninsula Area and Torres Strait.
Strengthen your commitment to social justice and help prevent our people coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
Apply Now
Apps close soon.
Advocacy Skills Development Program – April 2016
The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd will gather its statewide team of 37 Family, Child Protection, Civil Law legal practitioners and paralegals for its inaugural advocacy skills development program in Brisbane this month.
Workshop leaders include Barristers Craig Smith, presentation specialist, Jane FitzGerald, with workshop guidance training from Professional Development specialist, Margaret Voight. This team will provide innovative, customised advocacy coaching for our growing workforce.
Supporting Barristers-at-Law will guide each ATSILS staff member in small teams relating to core case planning and theory.
The aims of this program are to:
This 2016 project forms part of the emerging ATSILS Workforce Development Cultural Plan and is available exclusively to ATSILS employees.
View workshop flyer here > ATSILS Advocacy Workshop Flyer Fam Civil 2016
Current Vacancies – Legal Practitioners, Community Legal Education, Court Support and Client Services
*We’re Hiring*
Join the team leading in the delivery of professional, innovative and culturally competent legal services.
From Brisbane to Bamaga and Mt Isa to Murgon we have a range of great positions available.
We are looking for Legal Practitioners, Community Legal Education Officers, Court Support Officers and a Client Services Coordinator.
View our current job vacancies here:
https://atsils.org.au/job-vacancies/
25th Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Today is the 25th Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report #RCIADIC
This morning ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy and Dr Jackie Huggins Co-Chairs of Change the Record Coalition are at Parliament House in Canberra commemorating lives lost and working for change.
In the 25 years since the handing down of the RCIADIC report Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rates have almost doubled. It time for change. Here’s what’s needed:
https://changetherecord.org.au/blueprint-for-change
Murri Court – official re-opening in Rockhampton
This week staff from our team in Rockhampton attended the official re-opening of the Murri Court – the first re-opening to occur in the State.
The opening ceremony was attended by a number of important dignitaries, including the Attorney-General, the Chief Judge of the District Court, the Chief Magistrate and local Elders (just to name a few).
A number of speeches were made to commemorate the occasion and our dedicated team in Rocky were acknowledged by the Coordinating Magistrate (Mr Press) in his speech. He spoke about the hard work ATSILS does and made particular mention of Tammy House our Court Support Officer in the region. Magistrate Press indicated that he could not imagine how the Court would function without Tammy’s invaluable assistance, particularly helping our clients to properly understand their charges and give instructions.
Great to see this culturally responsive justice alternative re-established and well done to the team in Rocky.
Reparations Scheme – Applications Day Invitation Brisbane
When: Monday, 18 April 2016
Where: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) 55 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba 4102
Time: 9am to 12pm
Attend this session if you answer YES to any of the following:
process
1957 and 31 December 1959
If you wish to apply or enquire about your application you must bring documentation that can prove yourdate of birth such as a driver’s licence, birth certificate, health care card or pension card.
More information about the Reparations Scheme is available on freecall
1800 619 505 visit www.qld.gov.au/reparations
Download: Applications Day Invitation
View: Reparations Scheme Eligibility Payments Information Sheet
CAREERS: Court Support and Field Officer Positions in SW & SE QLD
ATSILS (QLD) is seeking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates (only) for the following positions in South East and South West Queensland.
Field Officer Roles
Court Support Officer Roles
These positions offer a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your commitment to social justice for our people and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice systems to better protect their rights. You will assist a highly supportive team of legal staff deliver services that are culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of the client.
This role encourages a personable, enthusiastic and organised social justice networker to provide support, information and encouragement at a time when clients are often at their most vulnerable. The majority of our client-demand provides excellent opportunity to work on the ground within the justice system – for example, at court, visiting watch-houses and in community, so as to ensure that clients’ legal rights are protected.
So why not head out into the wild blue yonder and forge an exciting legal career whilst enjoying all the lifestyle benefits working on country has to offer?
ATSILS Queensland provides a culturally rich, advocacy-focused workplace and attractive employment conditions including:
View all Vacancies
More Education NOT Incarceration- The Queensland Law Society strengthens calls for justice reforms & targets.
Indigenous incarceration costs almost double price of uni education
Queensland Law Society Media Release:
Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts has called for reforms to reduce the nation’s appalling rate of indigenous imprisonment – saying it costs taxpayers almost twice as much to lock people up than provide them with an elite university education.
Mr Potts said it was time for the state and federal governments to set “aspirational targets’’ to reduce incarceration of indigenous Australians and implement strategies and policies to guarantee positive outcomes.
He said the current estimated cost of incarceration in Queensland was $66,000 per prisoner each year – while the cost of keeping a person fed, clothed, with a roof over their head and a university education was about $38,000.
Federal Productivity Commission figures from 2013/14 show the number of Indigenous Australians imprisoned was 16 times higher than non-Indigenous people.
The call follows the recent announcement by the Northern Territory Government to set justice targets aimed at halving the rate of Aboriginal imprisonment by 2030 and a call by the Law Council of Australia for state and federal intergovernmental action.
“Statistics show that it costs more to incarcerate a person for five years than it would to send them to one of Queensland’s best universities. I know how I’d rather my taxes be spent,’’ Mr Potts said.
“Courts like the Murri Court and the Drug Court have been successful in reducing reoffending and incarceration, and it is good to see them on the way back in Queensland.
“Keeping indigenous people out of the prison system through these rehabilitation measures will give them a chance at a better life – and it’s simply good economics. From our point of view, it is much better to educate than incarcerate.’’
View Media Release in Full