Our organisation is accredited by the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Law and Justice Support Program
History
Following the Centre’s opening in 1996, staff became involved in a range of initiatives aimed at improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s access to the Centre. Staff undertook training and attended workshops to gain an understanding of the general barriers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women face when trying to access community services such as the Women’s Legal Centre. The barriers include:
- A general distrust of the Australian legal system which, for so long, has been used as an authoritarian tool to oppress Aboriginal people and Aboriginal culture.
- A lack of knowledge about community services, including the Women’s Legal Centre, and the lack of community relationships with Centre staff.
- Practical difficulties with phone credit, transport and child-care which prevent would-be clients attending appointments or accessing telephone advice services.
The Centre began consulting with Aboriginal services across Canberra to determine how we could best improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s access to the Centre. A continuing theme in the feedback received was the need for an Aboriginal-identified position at the Centre.
In 2005, the Centre submitted a proposal to the ACT Government and received project funding from the ‘Community Inclusion Fund’ for a 3-year ‘Indigenous Women’s Law and Justice Support Project.’
The Centre was successful in obtaining funding to operate the project and employed a part-time Aboriginal woman to work at the Centre as the Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO). During the three year period of the Community Inclusion Funding the Centre proceeded to obtain on-going funding from the ACT Government to turn the project into a program.
The Centre was successful in its bid for funding and now operates a Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Womens Law & Justice Support Program.