Helping Deadly Young Mob in Cairns “Get Work Ready”.

Once again our team in Cairns delivered the “Get Work Ready” community legal education workshop to IYMP (Cairns) students. The students are completing their final month of study, and this workshop helps prepare them for a successful entry into the workforce by providing timely information on their work rights, how to deal with employment disputes and the array of support organisations available to assist them on their career path.

The students were highly engaged in the session and left feeling equipped to approach the working world confidently. Congratulations to the students who have completed their certificates and all the best for a bright future in the workforce.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – Innisfail

Members of our Cairns team attended the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day event hosted by Mamu Health Service in Innisfail. It was a joy celebrating our children and getting an insight into the local community’s concerns and finding out where ATSILS may be able to target key services to be part of the solution. The team also provided information on our Respect@Work program which was of interest to the community.

The children’s favourite pick of ATSILS merchandise were the sun hats and drink bottles as pictured. We thank Mamu Health Service and Innisfail for hosting such a warm and engaging community event.

Respect@Work Program – CLE: Cairns

 

ATSILS CLE - Respect at WorkATSILS Solicitor Cicilia Halaholo continues to deliver Community Legal Education  (CLE) sessions throughout Far North Queensland under ATSILS Respect@Work Program. The key aim of the program is to prevent workplace sexual harassment and the most recent CLE was delivered through our partnership with Indigenous Youth Mobility Pathways (IYMP) to remote students based in Cairns.

The students showed great engagement with the content of the CLE and were very receptive to dealing with this sensitive workplace issue as they prepare to complete their studies and enter the workforce.

ATSILS also provided a range of merchandise and legal resources to complement their learning. Many of the students requested more information on other key legal topics from ATSILS and we plan to  deliver more resources to assist these robust learners leading the way for our communities.

ATSILS thanks the IYMP and their student cohort for their generosity and valued partnership to date and we look forward to continuing to build on this strong relationship into the future.

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Condemning the state sanctioned abuse and mass incarceration of First Nations children with disability

We stand together with our National Peak Bodies to condemn the abuse and mass incarceration of First Nations children with disability.

The significant over-representation of First Nations children in custody, especially those with cognitive or intellectual disabilities, is an ongoing and well-documented national crisis.

FPDN, NATSILS, ATSILS and SNAICC call upon the Qld Government to Immediately reinstate the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) in relation to children detained in police watch houses, abolish the practice of solitary confinement for children, improve intersectional disability data collection, implement effect screening and supports and mandate disability rights informed training for all custodial staff.

Read our full Joint Statement here: JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Condemning the state sanctioned abuse and mass incarceration of First Nations children with disability – FPDN

Assisting our most remote clients in Far NW QLD

Last week, ATSILS mobile legal practitioner Kevin Amantea undertook the remote court circuit in the Gulf country to assist clients and to help ensure our most remote communities have access to justice. Kevin said, ‘I enjoyed traveling to the Northwest QLD region of the Gulf of Carpentaria for work…. It was one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my legal career.

ATSILS currently employs two mobile legal practitioners as part of our innovative and agile workforce. Our highly experienced mobile legal practitioners travel far and wide across Queensland to assist with service delivery continuity and demand. They can be deployed to targeted regions to enable ATSILS to be more responsive to the legal needs of a community.

30th Annual Musgrave Park Family Fun Day

ATSILS had an amazing day out at the 30th Annual Musgrave Park Family Fun Day! Over 400 people visited our NAIDOC stall, and we shared countless yarns and stories.

Members of our Brisbane Team were out in force, offering advice to individuals and sharing resources to assist the community with a broad range of legal needs. The day was also a great opportunity to connect with other service providers and partners from Southeast Queensland.

A big thank you to all the staff who contributed to making the day successful. Events like these not only celebrate culture but also strengthen community connections and vital support networks.

 

Out in Community for NAIDOC at Ferny Grove State High School

ATSILS held a stall at the NAIDOC celebration at Ferny Grove State High School on Wednesday 10th July which saw approximately 2000 students and teachers come down to the oval to participate.

The day was a great success with many students and teachers stopping by the stall to ask about what ATSILS does. Some students had great questions about the law and current legal issues. The wristbands and information brochures were very popular and were quickly all snapped up by eager students.

Happy NAIDOC Week 2024

Happy #NAIDOC2024

❤️💛🖤💙🤍💚
‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’ celebrates the unyielding spirit of First Nations communities.
This year’s deadly NAIDOC Week poster ‘Urapun Muy’ (One Fire) is by Torres Strait Islander artist Deb Belyea.

ATSILS senior lawyer affectionately known as ‘The Bail King’ retires.
Lyle Parker - ATSILSAfter four decades of passionate advocacy for Queensland’s most vulnerable people and significant contributions to justice, including his work with ATSILS and the Fitzgerald Inquiry, esteemed lawyer Lyle Parker has retired.
Lyle is affectionately known amongst his ATSILS’ colleagues as “The Bail King” – to quote Lewis Shillito, our Director of Criminal Law: “mostly because he would get bail for clients in circumstances where no one else could feasibly do so. He would literally talk Magistrates into submission, simply not relenting until they did as he asked. He is unwaveringly temperate and professional in his dealings with all clients, prosecutors and certainly the bench.”
“Without question, Lyle’s well-deserved retirement sees the departure of a true legend – a lionhearted and consummate professional who was all about ‘service to others’ – especially the most vulnerable. Lyle will always remain an integral part of the ATSILS’ family – indeed, it is people such as he, who make us all proud to be part of that same family. All the very best to you Lyle – it has been my very great privilege to work alongside you as a colleague over so many years.” – Mr Greg Shadbolt (ATSILS) Principal Legal Officer.
Read More:
https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/redlands/atsils-senior-criminal-lawyer-lyle-parker-retires-after-40-year-career/news-story/3d7dd60cbdfe7e1e215d7154a944fc45
Please join us in supporting the #ARightToLearn Campaign

We all know kids have a right to learn, but last year Queensland state schools suspended and excluded nearly 3,900 more students than the year before – a total of 81,918 kids missed out on their right to learn. Join and share our A Right To Learn campaign now to keep the pressure on the government to call a full parliamentary inquiry!

Join the campaign here https://www.arighttolearn.com.au/pledge