The civil and family law needs of Indigenous peoples in Western Australia marks the conclusion of a series of reports on the jurisdiction of the Indigenous Legal Needs Project (ILNP). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Civil and Family Law Needs: Presentation at the 2013 NACLC Conference PowerPoint presentation prepared for the 2013 NACLC Conference The project resource page contains articles, presentations, media commentary, etc. created by Aboriginal Legal Centre staff. The Centre addresses the empowerment, rights and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a central contemporary concern of Australian public law. This priority is reflected in the work of several of the Centre`s projects. Under the Indigenous Legal Issues project, special emphasis is placed on land issues (land rights and title) and constitutional amendments. The objective of the project was to identify and analyse the legal needs of indigenous communities in non-criminal areas such as discrimination, consumption, credit and debt, child protection, education, employment, health, housing, wills and estates. Following a pilot project in New South Wales, the ILNP produced reports examining the legal needs of Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, Victoria, Queensland and now Western Australia. ICAN participated in the ILNP research project at James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns. Our participation in the study gave ICAN the opportunity to participate in the national project on consumer and financial issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers in North Queensland and Torres Strait, and to discuss the barriers ICAN customers often face when trying to deal with financial institutions, debt collection agencies, tenant services and access to legal assistance. New South Wales Aboriginal Family and Civil Law Needs Pilot Project Report on research to better understand the civil and family law needs of Aboriginal people in New South Wales to improve access and efficiency of civil and family law services for Aboriginal clients The ILNP study identified significant legal needs civil and family and poor access to civil and family justice among Indigenous communities in Queensland.

Queensland`s findings highlight: housing (tenancy law), loans and debts, conflicts with neighbours, discrimination and child protection are the most pressing legal issues in Queensland communities, with social security, wills and compensation for victims being the other priority issues. The key findings of the Queensland report are: Aboriginal Legal Needs Project NT Report (2012)Aboriginal Legal Needs Final Report Project research that identifies the primary civil and family law needs of Indigenous peoples in this jurisdiction, as well as issues related to the provision of legal services to Indigenous communities with respect to civil and family law issues. The Aboriginal Legal Needs Project (APNP) is a collaboration between James Cook University (JCU), the University of New South Wales, the University of Technology and legal services in a number of jurisdictions (including legal aid commissions and Aboriginal legal services). The research aims to create a better understanding of the civil and family law needs of Indigenous peoples based on consultations with Indigenous communities; an understanding of what is successful and what is not in the current service structure; and strategies that enable legal service providers to provide civil and family law services more effectively to Indigenous peoples in order to increase the use of these services by Indigenous clients. ILNP presentation at the Legal Aid Summer Series, Perth 27 February 2015 The Queensland ILNP report is available at www.jcu.edu.au/ilnp/public/groups/everyone/documents/technical_report/jcu_142181.pdf. Gibson, P, “Tony Abbott`s cuts directly Aboriginal children,” The Guardian, p. 20. February 2014 Indigenous Legal Needs Project VIC Report (2013)This report presents the main findings and recommendations of research conducted by the Indigenous Legal Needs Project (ILNP) in Victoria in 2012-2013. On the occasion of the release of Western Australia`s report, the ILNP also released its fifth and final interim report.

which deals with the completion of fieldwork and research analysis. Cunneen, C and Schwartz, M (2009) “Civil and Family Law Needs of Indigenous people in New South Wales: the Priority Areas”, 32 (3) University of New South Wales Law Journal 725 review articles on finding pilot projects Project Resources for Indigenous Legal Needs ILNP Reports and Documents presentation at the Financial Counselling Australia conference, Canberra, 20. May 2015 Cunneen, C, Allison, F and Schwartz, M (2014) Access to Justice for Aboriginal People in the Northern Territory` 49(2) Australian Journal of Social Issues 219ILNP Article on research findings in the Northern Territory In both areas, the project pursues these concerns through public commentary, academic analysis, collaboration with others and engagement with parliamentary and other public service processes. Allison, F (2014) “A Limited Right to Equality: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Racial Discrimination Law for Indigenous Australians through and Access to Justice Lens” 17(2) Australian Indigenous Law Review 3Article examining Indigenous peoples` access to the Racial Discrimination Act Presentation of the ILNP to the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres Forum Indigenous Legal Needs, 9. February 2015 Allison, F, Cunneen, C and Schwartz, M (2015) Tabled as part of a Senate inquiry into access to legal aid services The Aboriginal Legal Needs Project is a national study of the civil and family rights needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In October, the ILNP released a written report on its findings in Queensland and produced an animated short film to report the research to the wider community in a more accessible format than written reports. In the areas of land rights and indigenous title, the project focuses in particular on how judicial decision-making, legislation and government policies can support and facilitate the economic and political empowerment of Australia`s First Peoples. The project places particular emphasis on the overlap between public and indigenous land concerns in the areas of legal interpretation and the constitutional acquisition of property on equitable terms. Presentation at the Annual Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Services Forum (2012) Cunneen, C., “How fear and funding undercut a fair go for Indigenous Victorians,” The Conversation, November 29, 2013 In addition to each report, NAIP produced an animated film illustrating the results of its research. The series of four videos can be viewed on the ILNP website. `The Indigenous Legal Needs Project`, document présenté à la ANZ Critical Criminology Conference, University of Tasmania, Hobart 12-13 juillet 2012 Schwartz, M (2009) `From crisis to crime: escalation of civil and family law issues to criminal matters in Aboriginal communities in NSW`, présentation à la conférence Criminal Lawyers of the NT (CLANT), 27.-30. Juin 2009, Bali Pour plus d’informations sur la recherche ILNP, contactez Fiona Allison, chercheuse principale au : fiona.allison@jcu.edu.au ou au (07) 4042 1886.

The Queensland animated film is available on the JCU website at: Aboriginal Legal Needs www.jcu.edu.au/ilnp/resources/ilnpvdeos/index.htm Project (2013) Submission to the Productivity Commission`s Access to Justice Inquiry Submission of the ILNP to the Productivity Commission`s current inquiry into access to civil justice With regard to constitutional amendments, The project is examining ideas for a formal amendment to the Australian Constitution and others This system could affect the situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and, in particular, improve empowerment, rights and recognition. Schwartz, M et Cunneen, C (2009), « From Crisis to Crime: the escalation of civil and family law issues to criminal matters in Aboriginal communities in NSW », Bulletin de droit autochtone 7(15) 18 Article de revue sur la recherche du projet pilote Allison, F, Cunneen, C et Schwartz, M (2013) « That’s Discrimination! Indigenous peoples` experiences of discrimination in the Northern Territory », 8(5) Indigenous Law Bulletin 12Zeitschriftenartikel über ILNP-Forschung über Diskriminierung im NT.