7 October 2021

Launch of Website and EOI process

NAAJA is pleased to announce the launch of the ‘True Justice: Deep Listening’ website and EOI process to provide Aboriginal-led, on-Country and immersive experiences in the Northern Territory aimed at transforming education in law.

The website address is www.truejustice.org.au

“This is an incredible opportunity for students and participants to connect to a range of Aboriginal people speaking from their own roles and authority including Traditional Owners, Interpreters, Lawyers, Academics”, said Priscilla Atkins, CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA). 

“By opening up an Expressions of Interest process, we are calling on partner organisations including employers, law firms, legal bodies and institutions to partner with us and commit to future courses”. 

The courses will be run in both the Top End and Central Australia.  Courses can be co-designed with partners and select courses will be available by open enrolment for select categories of participants.   

NAAJA’s Principal Legal Officer David Woodroffe said “True Justice is about hearing and learning from Aboriginal perspectives and experiences and integrating this into the legal system in a way that allows for appropriate recognition, space and respect.  Because our legal system is built on a colonial history and legacy, we need to address the many issues in a systemic and holistic way to achieve True Justice.  It begins by being prepared to engage and listen to our Elders and people who speak from their own authority and doing so in a way where we can listen deeply and be on-Country”.  

Ms Atkins says the “university sector that develops and prepares future lawyers speaks about the value and importance of cultural competency and learning from Aboriginal perspectives.  This can’t be done in classrooms alone.  It begins by doing so on-Country and through immersive experiences”.  

 “We are pleased to work with the ANU College of Law to establish the exemplar course and to build from this and partner with law schools and other partners across the country.  Courses will also be available for lawyers, judges and select participants involved in law or policy”, says Ms Atkins. 

The course with ANU College of Law is designed to:

• Engage law students and increase cultural competency.

• Develop student’s understandings of the Indigenous perspectives and critiques about the nature and impacts of the justice system.

• Enhance students understanding of what it means to listen, collaborate and ally themselves with justice for Indigenous peoples.

• Provide a sustainable path for students to help recalibrate Australian legal education and the legal system for true justice for Indigenous peoples.

 ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the ANU College of Law, Professor Sally Wheeler OBE, said “We are delighted to have been chosen as exemplar and development partner by NAAJA to support the design and delivery of this exciting, immersive on-Country course for our students and the nation. As the law school of Australia’s national university, it is our privilege and our responsibility to develop the nation’s capacity to listen deeply to First Nations voices and partner with First Nations peoples in pursuit of True Justice”.

Professor Asmi Wood said, “Courses such as this, which genuinely enable students to see and experience the depth, breadth and the intricacies of Aboriginal laws -- laws that coexist in harmony with the land and continent -- means that in the future, we will have leaders who truly know and appreciate how the wealth that Indigenous laws and culture bring, can be used to benefit all those who share our lands.”

Ms Atkins continued, “We are also pleased to partner with other Aboriginal organisations including Winkiku Rrumbangi NT Indigenous Lawyers Aboriginal Corporation and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory.  These partnerships will bring Aboriginal-led, lawyer and health based content to the course design”.     

The logo for True Justice: Deep Listening was developed by Mparntwe Traditional Owner Karen Liddle. 

Ms Liddle says “The large circle represents the place/community where the law students, elders, guest speakers and Traditional Owners come together.  The smaller circles on the outside are the communities and cities that law students, guest speakers come from.  The footprints and lines going in are the tracks and roads into the main gathering place for the teaching of ‘True Justice’.”

We also thank the pro bono assistance provided by King & Wood Mallesons to support the development of the website and logo.  

18 August 2019

Launch of True Justice: Deep Listening

The official launch of the True Justice: Deep Listening exemplar course with the Australian National University College of Law took place on 18th August 2019 at the 14th National Indigenous Legal Conference on Larrakia country, Darwin.