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...

23 May 2022 The NSW Government is currently calling for sector and community responses to its Family Is Culture legislative review discussion paper. Peak Aboriginal organisations AbSec and the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) have jointly published an  alternative briefing paper, outlining our serious concerns with the Government’s framing of the issues and sidelining of community-led reforms. We urge you to consider our...

8 April 2022 Douglas 'Mootijah' Shillingsworth died in custody following an ear infection – otitis media, a common health issue in Aboriginal communities. He was 44 years old, a proud Budjiti and Murrawarri man. A coronial inquest heard evidence about Mootijah’s untimely death in early April 2022. The Coroner will deliver findings at a later date. Mootijah leaves behind a large and...

14 February 2022 We are pleased to confirm the new ALS Board of Directors, following community elections in 2021 and an Annual General Meeting in January 2022 (which had been delayed due to COVID). The following people have been voted onto our Board for the period 2021-2024: Jason Allan (Northern Region) Avery Brown (Northern Region) Helen Brown (Northern Region) Robert Carroll (Western...