The mission of the Northern Territory Correctional Service is to contribute to the overall government approach of building safer communities through providing safe, secure, humane custody, while reducing crime through…
The Koori Court first sat at Shepparton on 7 October 2002, following the passage of the Magistrates’ Court (Koori Court) Act 2002. Six months later the Broadmeadows Koori Court commenced…
20 years after the release of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) report, which noted the need to reduce Aboriginal incarceration, Indigenous imprisonment continues to rise alongside…
This report presents the findings of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs inquiry into Australia’s family law system, and recommendations to improve its response…
This article interrogates Australia’s ‘post-coloniality’ in light of the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee and its legal and political aftermath. While Prime Minister Rudd recently called for an end…
This report provides an estimate of the annual cost savings to the Western Australian Government of proactively diverting young offenders from the court system and from detention in remand in…
This article critically analyses the role that criminological theory and specific policy formulations of culture play in the New Zealand state’s response to the over-representation of Maori in the criminal…
The Koori Court Division of the Magistrates’ Court in Victoria has been in operation since 2002, and in many ways reflects an innovative and progressive approach to the problems Aboriginal…
The Northern Territory Police Force launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths in custody of Terrance Briscoe. Terrance was admitted to the Alice Springs Police Watch House for…
In 2010, five white men were convicted of manslaughter for their part in an attack on an Aboriginal man that led to his death. Each was sentences to custodial terms…
Between 1999 and 2003 traffic and vehicle regulatory offences accounted for 11.9 per cent of recorded offences among Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, a remote Aboriginal (APY) community in South Australia. The…
This report identifies the barriers to ethnic equality in New Zealand through a process of research and engagement with public service agencies, researchers and affected groups and individuals. The report…
The Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments signed an agreement on 27 July 2000 to enable the diversion of juveniles from the criminal justice system and to provide for joint funding…
The aim of this project was to examine and report on the impact of various alcohol control measures on levels of alcohol consumption and related harm in Central Australia for…
As a result of the adopted model of the Family Home Visiting, in which nurses conduct home visits with Indigenous Cultural Consultants for Aboriginal clients in South Australia, all families…
Indigenous people experience a disproportionately high burden of interpersonal violence. This paper compares the demographic characteristics and injury circumstances of male and female Indigenous Australians hospitalised due to interpersonal violence…
This publication reports on the Indigenous Australians with mental health disorders and cognitive disability in the criminal justice system project. The project involved the development of an in-depth representation of…
In June 2007, the Australian Government responded to the report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into Protection of Aboriginal Children with the announcement of a package of 12…
Community Justice Centres (CJCs) commenced the implementation of an Indigenous-specific mediation service in 2002 in response to a need identified through community research. An initial pilot for the recruitment and…
The aims of the Derby/West Kimberley project were to increase awareness and understanding of domestic violence in the Derby community; to develop and implement culturally appropriate strategies for the intervention…
The report sets out to comprehensively analyse major reviews and evaluations of programs relevant to Indigenous labour market outcomes, including national mainstream and Indigenous-specific policies. This report critically reviews evaluations…
This report considers research on the problem of crime resulting from alcohol and other drug abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. It provides a review of published…
Prepared for the New South Wales Minister for Juvenile Justice as a strategic review of the juvenile justice system, this report identifies and describes effective practice in juvenile justice. Changes…
This report is part of the National Assessment of Australia?s Children?s Courtsproject. The history and functions of the NSW Children?s Court and its programs, including those focused on Indigenous children,…
This information bulletin outlines the development of the Aboriginal Courts in South Australia. Some preliminary statistics are presented for the three adult Nunga courts currently operating in South Australia, namely…
A range of legislative models for the delivery of child welfare services to Indigenous communities have developed in a number of countries within different historical and political contexts. In each…
This report contains detailed analyses underlying the summary data presented in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2006 report (AHMAC2006). The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health…
This report contains detailed analyses underlying the summary data presented in the policy report Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2008 report, produced by the Department of Health…
This report contains detailed analyses underlying the summary data presented in the policy report Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2008 report, produced by the Department of Health…
This report isthe third national report on health services provided by Aboriginal community controlled and non-community controlled health organisations, and funded by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander…
This study is an initiative of the Australian Government aimed at collecting longitudinal data that will help in the development of better outcomes for Indigenous children. One of the first…
In 2008, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) collected information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 15 years and over; for the first time…
This is the second edition of a benchbook designed to alert the Western Australian judiciary to cross cultural issues which may arise in the course of the conduct of trials…
The Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce was established to consult widely with Aboriginal communities, community based services and government departments about child sexual assault within Aboriginal communities, which will result…
This paper explores the challenges of crime prevention through social development in those Aboriginal communities in Canada that are commonly associated with cross-border activities that comprise a central element of…
The two legal aid services undertook research into policing under the Northern Territory intervention, particularly in a group of 14 communities that were provided with a police station. They found…
Engaging Aboriginal communities in the context of family violence, drug and alcohol use in rural and remote Aboriginal communities is a huge topic. In this paper, the author focuses on…
This paper is intended to provide a broad summary of the approach of Australian courts to Aboriginal customary law in the areas of criminal law, civil law and family law.…
This project commenced in late 2000 by the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, arose from a proposal to investigate whether there may be a need to recognise the existence…
This Final Report is intended to be read in conjunction with the Commission’s earlier Discussion Paper which provides greater detail in respect of the Commission’s initial consultation findings, its research…
This project commenced in late 2000 by the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, arose from a proposal to investigate whether there may be a need to recognise the existence…
Using the Canadian model of circle healing, especially for child sexual abuse cases, this presentation contains a series of talking points that draw on current research into cultural healing, and…
This plan identifies the strategic directions, roles and responsibilities of South Australian Justice agencies, as well as opportunities for cross-agency collaboration, which will improve criminal and social justice outcomes for…
The Aboriginal Justice Agreement gives formal recognition to the real and honest partnership between the Attorney General and the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council in working to reduce Aboriginal peoples involvement…
There have been many varied approaches over time to engage Aboriginal people as a part of the police service. One such has been creating Indigenous liaison officers to act as…
The Aboriginal Strategic Direction 2012-2017 is the overarching policy document developed to guide the NSW Police Force in its management of Aboriginal issues. It supersedes the Aboriginal Strategic Direction 2007-2011.…
This is a recent evaluation of a program that provided legal assistance to Aboriginal women leaving custody to obtain housing in NSW. The report identifies the importance of housing to…
Warringa Baiya is a facility that specialised in providing legal information, advice, casework, education and advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children who are, or have been,…
This project investigates the transitional and post release needs of Aboriginal women with dependent children who are exiting prison in Western Sydney. It aims to understand their needs; appropriate services…
This article presents the findings of recent research involving stakeholders in the Children’s Court of Western Australia (CCWA). This research found that the needs of Aboriginal children and their families…
Building on the sound basis of our existing statistical program, this paper outlines areas where the ABS could extend and enhance the suite of statistics for understanding the circumstances of…
This report highlights the ACT’s progress on Closing the Gap on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage. It has been long recognised that the Council of Australian Governments’ initiative to…
This special report to Parliament is made under Part 6A of the Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993, which requires the NSW Ombudsman to audit the implementation of…
This paper, which was presented as the closing keynote address to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Conference held in 2007, reflects on the conference theme of ‘diversity and…
Based on a report prepared by Judy Atkinson and Caroline Atkinson, this chapter provides a broad overview of the current situation regarding family violence in Indigenous communities from both a…
This study examines the incidence of Indigenous driving offending in the Northern Territory since 2006 and assesses the effectiveness of law enforcement in addressing this crime. The research method has…
The Australian Government has funded Indigenous-specific legal assistance services since 1971. State and territory governments are responsible for the operation, and funding, of the law and justice sector in their…
Knowledge about sexual violence against women from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds is scant. Anecdotally, levels of sexual violence are purported to be high, but national victimisation surveys…
For years community groups in Alice Springs, including the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition (PAAC), attempted to gain the agreement of the NT Licensing Commission to trial reduced takeaway trading hours…
This literature review was undertaken as part of a larger project concerned with the development of resources to enhance the education and training of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers…
This discussion paper sets out a series of possible amendments to the ‘Alcohol Court Act 2005 (NT)’, as well as other Northern Territory initiatives, in order to address the full…
This paper provides detailed information to support the key strategy areas identified in the ‘National Alcohol Strategy 2001 to 2003-04’, and provides a resource document for those interested in developing…
This article discusses the Federal Government’s intervention into the Northern Territory Aboriginal communities in the context of public policy regulating the supply and consumption of alcohol in Indigenous contexts. Alcohol…
Alcohol abuse has a corrosive effect on individuals and whole communities, increasing violence, abuse, unemployment, debt and ill health. This monograph starts by looking at the harms excessive alcohol consumption…
Surveys have shown that, while Indigenous Australians are less likely than non-Indigenous Australians to consume alcohol, those that do are more likely to drink at risky and high-risk levels. Indigenous…
This report addresses the issue of whether the legal system is responding adequately to domestic and family violence against Indigenous people. The aims of the research were to: determine what…
In August 2006, the Northern Territory Government created the Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse to research and report on allegations of sexual abuse…
This paper describes and evaluates the process, impacts and outcomes of an Aboriginal Family and Community Healing (AFCH) Program based in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. The evaluation used participatory action…
The Salvation Army Crisis Services network has embarked on a number of partnership arrangements to deliver services to clients. This paper reports on one successful model used to facilitate private…
Research studies have identified a disproportionate number of Indigenous Australians in the correctional system, and argued the importance of diverting young men and women away from a life of substance…
The Northern Territory exhibits a high level of alcohol consumption, and Katherine is no exception. It is relevant to note that almost a quarter of their population is indigenous, and…
This report evaluates the Koori Cognitive Skills Program (CSP) for Corrections Victoria. Research has shown that people who get into trouble with the law often have difficulty solving problems in…
The 2006 New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey (NZCASS) is the first to enable a detailed analysis of the Maori experience of crime victimisation. Because the NZCASS focuses on victims…
The main players involved in the administration of criminal justice in respect of Indigenous people of a non-English speaking background effectively combine to prop up a dysfunctional system where unrecognised…
This is the Hansard transcript of the reply by the Leader of the Opposition, Brendan Nelson, to the historic apology proffered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on behalf of the…
Therapeutic jurisprudence asserts that court processes potentially impact participant wellbeing. Court processes developed with a view to promoting wellbeing or at least limiting any negative impact upon wellbeing can advance…
A research team recently completed an exercise to estimate relative rates of Indigenous Family Violence (IFV). The research was conducted on a national scale and utilised only quantitative information. This…
The over-representation of Indigenous Australians in prison continues to be a serious problem. It has been found that the over-representation stems initially from the higher rate of appearance at court…
In many Australian States and Territories the provocation defence has recently been the subject of law reform. In the Northern Territory, since the 1950s judgements of Kriewaldt J, Aboriginal people’s…
It is argued that there are many points of critique to current federal policies in relation to Indigenous people in Australia. In this opinion piece, the author focuses on one…
Under its Law and Justice Program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS) provides legal aid to Indigenous Australians, as well as preventative and diversionary services, support for the resolution…
The Prevention, Diversion, Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice Program works to divert Indigenous Australians away from adverse contact with the legal system and provides activities that will rehabilitate and support Indigenous…
This report evaluates the participation of Aboriginal people in the NSW Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment program (MERIT). Launched as a pilot program in 2000 in Lismore, NSW, MERIT has…
In light of the unacceptable and increasing numbers of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect, the Australian Government has committed to developing a national framework for protecting children, and…
This database contains summaries of reports of Australian criminal law cases that consider Aboriginality – the Aboriginal background of the defendant, their cultural practice or the customary law of their…