MEDIA RELEASE

Additional note as of 24 June: Due to the COVID outbreak and restrictions imposed, the ALS is postponing the community meeting scheduled in Redfern on Saturday 26 June 2021 to elect ALS Company Members for the Central South Eastern Region. Please disregard information below for the Central South Eastern Region meeting and visit www.alsnswact.org.au/company_elections for up-to-date information. The Northern Region and Western Region meetings will proceed as planned.

Tuesday 22 June

The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT (ALS) is preparing to elect Company Members as the organisation marks over 50 years of free, community-controlled legal services. The ALS elects Company Members and Directors every three years.

“The ALS is celebrating over 50 years of Aboriginal community-controlled legal services. We were the first free legal service of any kind in Australia, and we have such a proud history of fighting for our people,” said Mark Davies, ALS Chairperson.

The ALS is inviting adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members to have their say in choosing Company Members from the pool of applicants. Please note that applications have now closed and it is now time to vote.

Elections for ALS Company Members will be held in Redfern, Tamworth and Parkes on Saturday 26 June. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 and over are invited to join for a cuppa and light lunch, and to cast their vote in the Region in which they live.

To be eligible to vote, you must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, at least 18 years old, and a resident of the ALS Region (Northern, Western, or Central South-Eastern) in which you are voting.

Company Members play a key role in facilitating communication between Aboriginal communities and the ALS. Thirty eligible Company Members will be chosen – 10 from the Northern Region, 10 from the Western Region, and 10 from Central South-Eastern Region. The 10 Members from each region will then choose four people among their ranks to make up the Board of Directors.

Voters will be required to show photo ID proving their age and residency and fill in a declaration form. For full details, visit www.alsnswact.org.au/company_elections or call (02) 9213 4100.

• Northern Region election: 10:45am for an 11am start, Saturday 26 June, Best Western Plus All Settlers Motor Inn, 191 Goonoo Goonoo Rd, South Tamworth
• Western Region election: 10:45am for an 11am start, Saturday 26 June, Bushmans Motor Inn, 9-13 Peak Hill Rd, Parkes
• Central South Eastern Region election: 10:45am for an 11am start, Saturday 26 June, Redfern Community Centre, 29-53 Hugo St, Redfern (subject to developments in relation to COVID-19)

“Everything about this organisation has always been by our mob, for our mob. We really want to see people coming out on Saturday 26th June and continuing that important tradition of community control,” said Mr Davies.

ENDS

Media contact: [email protected] / 0427 346 017

Media are welcome to publish the above photo of Mark Davies, ALS Chairperson.