BOARD BUSINESS
NOVEMBER MEETING & AGM
Our last Board meeting of 2024 was held 29-30 November, with our Annual General Meeting also taking place on Friday 29 November It was great to have so many members and directors present, including for a members’ workshop on governance and constitutional change as well as a joint director-member dinner on the 28th
During the AGM, members heard from the auditors who delivered a successful unqualified audit of our finances, confirming the ALS is managing our finances in line with all relevant accounting standards.
Board photo taken August 2024:
Back row L-R: Peter Stapleton, Robert Carroll, Uncle Hewitt Whyman, Janelle Clarke, Terrence Robinson, Raymond Keed || Front row L-R: Maxine Kirby (alternate director), Antionette House, Keith Morgan (Chairperson), Patricia Laurie (Deputy Chairperson), Cindy Fuller.
SUPPORTING OUR PEOPLE
FIRST NATIONS LAWYER OF THE YEAR
ALLIED PROFESSIONAL SERVICESMORE HOLISTIC HELP FOR COMMUNITY
The ALS Allied Professional Services (APS) is a network of 28 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff from social work, youth work, case management and lived experience backgrounds who provide wraparound support services to our clients in several pilot projects across the ALS
They collaborate with legal staff to address some of the underlying causes of legal issues Their work grows on the field officer/lawyer collaboration that has always been the foundation of the ALS way of working
ALS solicitor Emma Hudson-Buhagiar took home the award for First Nations Lawyer of the Year at the recent Ngalaya Ball
Emma is a proud Wiradjuri woman and criminal lawyer who has dedicated her career to working for justice in the legal sector She has represented both children and adults in courts of all levels in NSW. Her work includes representing children at the Youth Koori Court and adults at the Walama List, an alternative sentencing procedure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples in the District Court.
In addition to directly supporting clients, Emma regularly contributes to advisory groups, panels and conferences, sharing her knowledge and advocating for a fairer future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Congratulations Emma on this well-deserved accolade!
APS staff are working with our lawyers to build their awareness of traumainformed approaches and showing the benefit to legal outcomes of working with the client around their non-legal social, emotional and cultural needs
These team members are making an impact in services including our Women’s Bail Advocacy Program, Youth Bail Advocacy Program, Aboriginal Child & Family Advocacy & Support service, Legal Assistance for Women service, in the Coronial Unit, and in our NSW and ACT Criminal Law Practices
Across this work, the APS staff are overwhelmingly successful in getting better legal outcomes for clients as well as making sure their wellbeing is considered
SUPPORTING OUR PEOPLE
EMPLOYMENT LAW SERVICE WINS
Our Employment Law Service turned 1 in October. In the first year of this service, we recovered over $104,000 for Aboriginal workers in NSW. Some recent wins include representing two teenage workers in the Fair Work Commission who were compensated after they were dismissed from their jobs; and helping someone keep their job after they were under investigation by a government department and facing dismissal.
If you’re facing discrimination, harassment or other unfair treatment at work, give us a call on 1800 765 767.
LEGAL UPDATE: KNIFE SCANNING POLICE POWERS
As of December 2024, police in NSW have new powers to stop and scan people for knives in designated public areas If you’re in a designated area, police can require you to stop and allow them to wave a hand-held metal detector over you and your belongings. If they detect a metal object, they may require you to show them what it is, then scan you again In some cases, police may decide to search you or your belongings.
If you’re stopped and scanned by police, stay calm, cooperate (but make clear that you do not consent to any search), and remember you can always complain later if you believe you were treated unfairly If you are charged after being scanned for knives or are worried about how you were treated by police, call the ALS on 1800 765 767.
More information about the new knifescanning powers is available on our website.
CIRCLE SENTENCING IN THE ACT SUPREME COURT
Circle sentencing was introduced to the ACT Supreme Court last year and we are supporting clients to be sentenced this way if they wish
Circle sentencing is a more culturally appropriate way of sentencing a defendant They sit in a circle with their lawyer, the prosecutor, the judge, as well as respected Elders from the community who are heavily involved throughout the sentencing process The defendant gets to speak and participate more than they would in a traditional sentencing process
To be eligible for circle sentencing, the defendant must be an adult, they must plead guilty to the offence, accept responsibility for the offence, be willing to engage in the circle sentencing process and it must not be a sexual offence Many of our Canberra clients seek to have their matters go through circle sentencing because of the central inclusion of Elders in the process and the more culturally appropriate approach to sentencing
While circle sentencing has been available in the Galambany Court (part of the Magistrates’ Court) in the ACT since 2004, this is the first time it’s been introduced at the Supreme Court level The ACT also has circle sentencing for children through the Warrumbul Circle Sentencing Court
ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE
RAISE THE AGE AD CAMPAIGN
In NSW, 10-year-olds can be sent to prison That is too young
That’s the message of a new advertising campaign from the Raise the Age NSW network, a group of organisations (including the ALS) who are determined to raise the age of legal responsibility to at least 14.
We’ve received great support from the media and advertising industries for this campaign, and our ads will be shown online, on TV, on radio, billboards and more over the next couple of months Keep a look-out for the ads and share this important message with your friends and family
Visit the Raise the Age NSW website for more information and social media assets that you can share
FIVE YEARS ON FROM THE FAMILY IS CULTURE REVIEW
We issued a community report on the NSW Government’s progress in reforming the child protection system in the five years since the Aboriginal-led Family Is Culture review was released in 2019.
Shamefully, we found that in five years, only 12 of 126 recommendations have been completed. In that time, the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care has increased
We are calling for the immediate establishment of an independent Child Protection Commission and the appointment of a NSW Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People. These improvements could help to hold the NSW Government to account and promote the rights of children. We are also calling on the NSW Government to transition funding to Aboriginal community-led support services for children and families, and to properly resource AbSec and the ALS as the peak bodies for Aboriginal children, families and communities in NSW.
Our Family Is Culture advocacy is carried out in partnership with AbSec – NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation, the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, and the Justice and Equity Centre.
Read the Family Is Culture: ‘Five Years On’ Community Report
Raise the Age NSW TV ad
ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE
MEDIA ADVOCACY
We’vepublishedthefollowingmedia releasessinceourpreviousnewsletter inSeptember:
05Dec:Newagreementhelps reducethenumberofchildren enteringfostercare
02Dec:AboriginalLegalService urgesdecisiveactioninresponseto reportsofpoliceracism
14Nov:NSWGovernmentmust answerforrecordimprisonmentof Aboriginalpeople
13Nov:‘Enoughisenough’: Aboriginalcommunitiestakechild protectionreformintotheirown handsafteryearsofgovernment inaction
CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
NAIDOC WEEK
We’ve were out and about in late 2024 attending belated NAIDOC events in Canberra, Wollongong and Parramatta; at the Just Reinvest NSW Services Hub at Mt Druitt; and at Yandarra Day in Wagga Wagga, to name a few Some highlights of our recent community engagement are below.
ONEMOB RADIO BREAKFAST ON GUMBAYNGGIRR COUNTRY
Our Coffs Harbour office cohosted a community breakfast with OneMob Radio on the 17th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
There was a real sense of community and it was a great chance for our staff to yarn with locals about the services provided by the ALS, and network with other service providers too. There was a huge turnout of people coming and going and also lots of children playing before school. The BBQ, coffees and ALS merchandise were all a huge hit!
CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
Ourtenantadvocatesvisited Mingaletta,anAboriginal organisationonDarkinjungCountry ontheCentralCoast,toshare informationaboutrenters’rights Wereceivedgreatfeedbackfrom theattendeesandMingalettateam Thanksforhavingus!
Itwasgreattoyarn aboutALScareersat October’sJobsforMob fairattheNational CentreforIndigenous ExcellenceonGadigal andEoraland Don’tforgetifyou’re interestedinworkingat theALS,youcansignup forfortnightlyjob updatesviaourwebsite atalsnswact.org.au/jobs.
CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
OurWomen’sBailAdvocacyProgram teamenjoyedcatchingupwith communityatanawarenessdayfor MentalHealthMonthinRaymondTerrace
FINES DAY IN MOREE
In late October we joined Legal Aid, Revenue NSW, Services Australia, and Transport NSW for a fines day in Moree Between all the services present, there were at least 60 community members who received assistance with their fines. One aunty walked away so pleased that she could finally go for her L’s after years of being prevented from getting her licence due to unpaid fines
Brooke Lancaster (Program Manager), Emma Russell (Social Worker), and Georgina Price (Solicitor)
CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY LUNCH IN BROKEN HILL
The September ALS Board meeting was held in Broken Hill which presented a great chance to host a community lunch and meet with locals. We had a big turn-out with around 50 people present at our venue at the Broken Hill Community Centre – enough people so that we had to order extra food!
Thank you to everyone who came along, our directors and executive team enjoyed yarning with you
KOORI KNOCKOUT
We were at the Koori Knockout in Bathurst throughout the October long weekend to connect with community and share legal information face-to-face Word is that this was the most successful Knockout in the event’s history with 138 teams participating and over 30,000 people in attendance!
Congratulations to Walgett Aboriginal Connection for taking out the men's Knockout and the Redfern All Blacks for winning the women's title We can't wait to do it all again next year!
Above: Latrell Mitchell and Program Manager Kristie Burge; Left: Field Officer Steve Naden
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST GUEST APPEARANCE
Nikolai Haddad, the Managing Solicitor of our Employment Law Service, appeared on a recent episode of 2SER and UTS’ Think: Business Futures podcast to talk about the experiences of First Nations people in the workplace and how we’re helping people to seek justice in the face of workplace discrimination, harassment and other unfair treatment
The conversation was based on the Gari Yala report, which is informed by a survey of 1,033 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workers across Australia. The episode also features Nareen Young from UTS and Trent Wallace from Ashurst
Listen here.
TOUCH
GomeroiteenagerMarkHaineswas founddeadontraintrackssouthof Tamworthin1988 Eversincethen,his familyhavebeenseekinganswersinto thecircumstancesofhisdeath
TheNSWGovernmentisofferinga$1 millionrewardforinformationintoMark’s death
Ifyoumayhaveanyinformation,no matterhowsmall,visitthiswebpage
