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...

MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 30 August 2023 ALS elects new Chairperson Kamilaroi and Ngunnawal man, Jason Allan has been elected as Chairperson by the Board of the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS).Mr Allan was elected at a Board meeting held on Friday 25 August at Tweed Heads, following the resignation of former Chairperson Mark Davies. On behalf of the Board and ALS...

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...

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Issued in partnership with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre Tuesday 30 May 2023   The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) (ALS) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) say the Government cannot ignore the growing crisis of the imprisonment of Aboriginal people in NSW. New figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show the proportion of...

MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 25 May 2023   The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) congratulates Keisha Hopgood on her appointment as a Magistrate of the NSW Local Court. Ms Hopgood’s appointment was announced on Thursday by Attorney General Michael Daley. She will be sworn in 6 June. “Keisha has been an integral member of the ALS team since 2017, serving in a...

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE  Issued in partnership with National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement South Australia, Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Friday 19 May 2023   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) around...

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...

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE  Issued in partnership with Human Rights Law Centre, Change The Record, Amnesty International, and ACT Council of Social Service Tuesday 9 May 2023   The ACT Government has been criticised for its failure to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 right away, with justice advocates saying the welfare of 12- and 13-year-old children cannot wait until 2025....