Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited
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Tips to browse safely online

Here you'll find some basic tips to protect your privacy and reduce the ability for people to see what you do online.

The 'Close this site' button

Some pages on this website include a 'Close this site' button. Use this button to quickly hide what you are looking at. You might find this helpful if someone comes into the room or looks over your shoulder and you don't want them to know what you've been looking at.

When you use the 'Close this site' button, it immediately closes this website and opens the Google search page in a new window.

You can also quickly close this site by using the ESC button on your computer keyboard. It immediately closes this website and opens the Google search page in a new window.

The 'Close this site' function doesn't delete your browser history. This means that if someone checks your browser history on your computer or mobile device, they will be able to see everything you looked at on our website.

Clear your browsing history regularly

Web browsers keep track of your online activity through your browser history, cookies and caching. This is so you can find websites you've visited before, but it also means other people can see this data.

To protect your privacy, it's a good idea to clear your browsing history regularly. You can choose to delete everything or only some things.

Find out how to clear your browsing history in:

  • Internet Explorer
  • Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Safari on iPhones or iPads.

For other browsers and devices, check the provider's website.

Use private browsing

Private browsing is an easy way to hide your browsing habits. If enabled, when you close your browser, all browsing history and stored cookies from future browsing sessions will automatically disappear.

However, the sites you visited during your current browsing session will record your browsing activity. Your internet service provider will also record this information. Any files you download using private browsing won't be deleted, so other people can access them if they use your device.

Find out how to enable private browsing in:

  • Internet Explorer
    • In the 'Tools' menu (the cog icon on top right of the browser window), select 'Safety', then 'InPrivate Browsing'.
  • Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Safari on iPhones or iPads.

For other browsers and devices, check the provider's website.

Accounts and passwords

Don't let your browser auto-save your passwords. While the auto-save function may be convenient, it gives anyone who uses your device access to your accounts.

When you are using an account with a password (e.g. your social media or email account), always log out before leaving the website.

Using other computers and devices

If you are worried about someone looking at your internet use, consider using a computer or device that they can't access.

This might be a computer at your local library, your work computer, or a family or friend's device. But again, don't auto-save any passwords and make sure you log out of your accounts when you've finished using the computer.

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

This advice is from "Tips to browse safely online" by The State of Queensland.
The content is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license.
© The State of Queensland 2024.
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Bail

If you want to apply for bail, vary your bail conditions, or need help understanding and sticking to your bail conditions, we’re here to help.

Call us on 1800 765 767. This is a toll-free number.

 

What is bail?

Bail is when someone who has been charged with a crime is allowed to stay out of jail until their matter is heard in court.

The police or a magistrate decide if you should get bail. If you get bail, you promise to come to court on your next court date and obey certain rules (known as ‘bail conditions’).

 

How do police and magistrates decide who gets bail?

When deciding whether to grant bail, the police or magistrate have to think about:

  • If you have been in trouble before
  • If you have breached – or broken – a bail condition before
  • If you have failed to go to court before when you were meant to
  • If you are likely to get into more trouble while on bail
  • If you are likely to not show up for court on your next court date
  • How serious are the charges against you

The police or court will want to be satisfied that you are not at unacceptable risk of failing to appear at court, committing a serious offence, endangering the safety of the community, or interfering with witnesses or evidence while you are free from custody.

Your ALS lawyer can apply for bail on your behalf and explain to the court why you should get it. If you don’t yet have an ALS lawyer, please call us as soon as possible on 1800 765 767.

 

Bail conditions

Bail conditions are rules that are attached to your bail. If you break these rules, your right to bail may be taken away and you could be put in custody.

Bail conditions might include rules like living at one fixed address, staying at home at night time, or not drinking alcohol. They should be specific to your situation and the charges you are facing.

It’s important to understand your bail conditions and stick to them. If you are having trouble following your bail conditions, please call the ALS and talk to your lawyer. We may be able to ask the court to change your bail conditions.

Sometimes you might need to get your bail conditions changed for a specific purpose, like attending a funeral out of town or caring for a sick or disabled family member. Even if it’s a really good reason, you need to talk to your lawyer first so we can ask the court for a variation to your bail conditions.

Call your ALS lawyer on the number they have given you, or call our toll-free number on 1800 765 767.

 

Who we help

Who we help

We help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children across NSW and the ACT who are charged with criminal offences and seeking bail, or already on bail and seeking support with understanding and/or meeting their conditions. Please call us ASAP on 1800 765 767 if you're on bail and worried it may be revoked.

Limitations

Our legal assistance is subject to a means and conflict test. The means test makes sure that our help is going to those people who need it most and would have trouble affording a lawyer otherwise. The conflict test makes sure that we don’t have any conflicts of interest in taking your case, so that you can be confident we are acting in your best interests.

Unfortunately we don't receive enough government funding to have lawyers in all courts. We are actively campaigning for the Commonwealth, NSW and ACT Governments to provide us with the adequate funding we need to change this. In the meantime, we will do our best to provide you with information and referral to another service if we are unable to represent you.

 

Bail programs in the ACT

The ALS runs local community programs in the ACT called Front-Up and Ngurrambai Bail Support.

For help or more information about these programs, please call our Canberra office on (02) 6120 8800.

 

Front-Up

The Front-Up program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT who have outstanding warrants or have breached bail. 

Our team will negotiate on your behalf and provide you with a support person and lawyer.

Our aim is to help you attend court without delay, get the matter dealt with, and avoid any time spent in custody – so you can be at home with family, where you belong.

 

Ngurrambai Bail Support

This program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT who are on bail or applying for it.

Some people join the program voluntarily, and others have to join as a condition of their bail.

Our aim is to reduce re-offending while on bail, decrease court appearances, and keep our mob out of prison.

Our team will:

  • Create a care plan that helps you with support, treatment, monitoring and supervision during your bail period
  • Give advice and legal representation for your bail application
  • Provide referrals and other support you might need to complete your bail

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Deaths in custody

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Problems at work

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Custody Notification Service

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We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work, and travel, and their Elders past and present.

Warning: This website may contain images and names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have passed away.