Understand the practices and processes that assist First Peoples coming before the courts.
When First Peoples have access to culturally appropriate services at courts it can mean the difference between life and death. For First Peoples, presentation in the justice system is especially fraught due to the ongoing effects of colonisation, and the outcomes can be alarming. By enabling the access of First Peoples to culturally appropriate services from the outset of their interaction with courts, the possibility of fair and just outcomes is increased.
In this Twilight we hear from First Peoples services across the Children’s, Magistrates, County and Coroners Courts. We showcase the specialised processes, practices, and protocols of these services. What can judicial officers learn about First Peoples in courts from the work that these services do? How can First Peoples services work with courts and judicial officers to enhance cultural knowledge and understanding?
This series of events is presented in partnership with the Judicial Officers’ Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Committee (JOACAC), chaired by Justice Jane Dixon and Magistrate Rose Falla.