Kelly, Loretta --- "A New Support Service for Indigenous Prisoners and their Families in NSW" [2000] IndigLawB 18; (2000) 4(27) Indigenous Law Bulletin 22

A New Support Service for Indigenous Prisoners and their Families in NSW

by Loretta Kelly

The recently-established NSW Aboriginal Prisoners and Family Support Ltd is one of the many Aboriginal support groups and services established throughout the country since the Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody (RCIADIC). It succeeded the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee and offers a wholistic support service to Aboriginal prisoners and their families. Its main objectives and functions include:

• monitoring of the implementation of the RCIADIC recommendations, and ensuring a continuing commitment by government and the public to further implementation of those recommendations;
• agitating for reform to legal and social structures to better protect the human and civil rights of Aboriginal people in prison, juvenile justice centres, police custody and coroner's courts, and also for reform of autopsy policies and other relevant policies;
• monitoring the deaths of Aboriginal prisoners;
• responding to cases of abuse of human and civil rights;
• assisting prisoners’ families and communities;
• providing educational material and campaigns;
• establishing connections with international bodies to widen support for Aboriginal people in custody;
• conducting research and assisting government and other agencies in the development of policy and practices relating to the needs of Aboriginal prisoners.

The head office is based in western Sydney and there are Field Support Officers out-posted in the rural regions of Tamworth, Dubbo and Bathurst. It is anticipated that other field support officers will soon be recruited for the Riverina and the mid-north coast.

One of the RCIADIC Commissioners commented in the Commission's report that when 'Aboriginal organizations [emerge] which have the resources, back-up, expertise and which can speak and are recognized as speaking on behalf of Aboriginal people,' tremendous changes are possible. ^[1] A significant feature of this service is that the Directors of the Board, who are responsible for overall management, are all Aboriginal, and all have considerable expertise across the spectrum of the criminal justice system. There are also six grass-roots Aboriginal community members who have been nominated by each regional ATSIC council to represent the respective regions: Kamilaroi, Murdi Paaki, Binaal Billa, Many Rivers, Queanbeyan and Sydney.

For further details, contact:

Loretta Kelly

Secretary and Director of Board

NSW Aboriginal Prisoners and Family Support Service

PO Box 130 Corindi Beach NSW 2456

Ph: (02) 66 491761 Fax: (02) 66 491781

E-mail: <lkelly@scu.edu.au>.

^[1] Johnston, op cit, p 24.