OUR CHALLENGES

ATSILS deals with a diverse range of complex legal, historical, cultural, geographical and socio-economic challenges that adversely impact upon our client population. We are particularly mindful of the following challenges relating to human rights and government-driven Closing the Gap – Social Inclusion and Law and Justice Reform initiatives:

• Ensuring that legal services are delivered in accordance with the Articles of the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• Raising awareness and understanding toward the cultural diversity, geographical isolation and socio-economic disadvantage among our client population;
• Moving beyond the social and bureaucratic apathy to ensure the efficient implementation of ALL recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody;
• Dealing with ongoing impacts of colonisation, in particular, extreme socio-economic disadvantage, inter-generational psychological trauma and scarring that contribute to varying degrees of frustration, anger, low self esteem and anti-social behaviour among our client population;
• The lack of awareness and understanding across our client population toward the justice system;
• The lack of cultural appreciation, awareness and understanding within the justice system toward the challenges that impact upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
• The potential and ongoing threat of changes in government public policy and direction.

Our Board of Directors, management and staff acknowledge and accept that to realise our Vision, we must:

• Maintain a detailed knowledge, understanding and sensitivity toward the historical challenges that impact upon our clients;
• Maintain a high level of dedication, commitment and passion to ensure optimum performance;
• Maintain a knowledgeable and up-to-date understanding of the contemporary justice system, practices and procedures;
• Maintain strong cultural leadership and governance;
• Preserve strong cultural pride and integrity;
• Recruit, train and retain dedicated, highly skilled and professional staff;
• Sustain strong and productive community and stakeholder relationships and
  partnerships; and
• Remain innovative in our thinking to continuously improve and maximise our
  performance.