Today sees the introduction of the Winha-nga-nha* List - a dedicated court list for Aboriginal families involved in care proceedings at Dubbo Children's Court This excellent development follows a co-design process with Aboriginal community reps and key stakeholders in response to Recommendation 125 of the Family is Culture Review Report. We are one of those key stakeholders, and the ALS will provide significant support...

29 June 2023 On Saturday 27 May 2023, Australia’s first Aboriginal Legal Service, providing legal representation to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, unanimously resolved to support and advocate in favour of the constitutional recognition of Australia’s First Nations and First Peoples and the constitutional protection of the proposed Voice. Chairperson of...

23 June 2023 From 1 July 2023, the Western Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (WATAAS) will be operated by Murra Mia Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service.  We have worked closely with Murra Mia to make the transition as smooth as possible for our clients and community. Please be assured that WATAAS will continue to operate and you can still reach the team...

15 May 2023 We have been forced to freeze criminal law services at 13 Local Courts across NSW due to a workload crisis caused by inadequate government funding. Beginning from Monday 15 May 2023, the ALS is unable to act for people facing new criminal charges at the following Local Courts: Byron Bay Eden Forster Junee Lithgow Moss Vale Muswellbrook Scone Singleton...

28 April 2023 Alongside other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) around Australia, we are facing a crisis and calling out for urgent funding relief from the Commonwealth Government. Demand for our services has almost doubled since 2018 but our core Federal Government funding has decreased in real terms. This means we are being pushed harder than ever before. We...

24 March 2023 Murra Mia Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service has recently been awarded the contract to provide support for Aboriginal renters and public housing tenants in western NSW. This means the ALS will cease operating the Western Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (WATAAS) after its current funding expires on 30 June 2023. Murra Mia will begin operating the tenancy services...

22 December 2022 From everyone here at the ALS, we're wishing our clients, community and supporters a happy and safe holiday season. Our staff will be taking a short break over Christmas and New Year to rest and recharge. All ALS offices will be closed from 5pm Friday 23 December 2022. Our phone lines will be back open from 9am Tuesday 3 January...

The ALS 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner was held on 11 November 2022 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth on Gadigal and Eora land. It was an honour to celebrate our legacy of resistance, resilience and solidarity with our founders and Elders, community, the legal fraternity, staff and supporters. Thank you to all who joined us for this great event, and a special thank...

1 December 2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children belong with their families and communities. They have the right to grow up safe and strong in their culture, with connections to Country. But right now, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice removes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their homes and families at 12 times the rate of their non-Indigenous...