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Indigenous information line - 1300 650 143 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access legal information and advice for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Queensland by telephoning the Indigenous information hotline.
The Indigenous information hotline aims to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are able to access legal information and referral, even if they live in remote parts of the state where there are limited legal services.
Information packs about the services we provide are available at our regional offices. Our staff also attend major Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander local and state events.
About the Integrated Indigenous Strategy Unit
The Integrated Indigenous Strategy Unit exists to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access justice. The unit focuses on the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families living in remote and regional communities.
Integrated Indigenous Strategy Unit activities include:
- raising awareness of our services within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- increasing access to legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders in particular women and their families living in remote and regional communities
- ensuring our services are provided in a culturally appropriate way
- conducting community legal education in the communities, and
- participating in law reform which reflects the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
To assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access legal services, we have employed community liaison officers in our Cairns and Townsville offices.
The community liaison officers are able to assist clients with information and referral, as well as obtaining legal representation through Legal Aid Queensland.
Pilot program
One of the initiatives aimed at increasing access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is our pilot program. The program operates in the following communities:
- Thursday Island
- Northern Peninsula Area (NPA)
- Cooktown
- Yarrabah
- Palm Island
- Bowen
- Ingham
Community liaison officers and solicitors visit these communities once a month and provide face to face legal advice and community legal education.
We also employ Indigenous liaison officers in these communities to assist clients between monthly visits. Recruitment to these positions will be finalised in February 2008.
Staff working within the Integrated Indigenous Strategy Unit pilot program are:
| Brisbane |
Carolyn Spindler, Integrated Indigenous Strategy Unit coordinator
May Mooka, Project officer |
| Cairns |
May Mooka, Community liaison officer |
| Thursday Island |
Indigenous liaison officer |
| Yarrabah |
Indigenous liaison officer |
| Northern Peninsular area |
Indigenous liaison officer |
| Townsville |
Shirli Congoo, Community liaison officer |
| Palm Island |
Indigenous liaison officer |
| Ingham |
Indigenous liaison officer |
| Bowen |
Indigenous liaison officer |
Advice clinics are held in each of these areas where Indigenous women are given the opportunity to speak directly with a solicitor.
This service to remote areas helps Indigenous women and their families overcome the isolation of accessing legal services regarding issues they face in their communities.
Services to other communities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access our services through any of our 13 regional offices and our Brisbane office.
Outreach services are provided in Cherbourg and Murgon to ensure that clients in remote areas are able to access free, face to face legal advice.
Cherbourg
Face to face legal advice is also provided by our solicitors in Cherbourg at the Courthouse one Tuesday a month between 10am and 12pm. No appointment is necessary.
Inquiries can be made by contacting Barambah Aboriginal Community Care Agency on (07) 4168 2757 to confirm legal advice dates. People seeking advice in Cherbourg, on a day when the lawyer is not visiting the community, can contact the Baramabah Aboriginal Community Care Agency to arrange telephone or video-link up advice.
Murgon
One of our solicitors visits Murgon one Tuesday a month to provide legal advice between 12pm and 1pm by appointment. The clinic is held at Graham House Community Centre and appointments can be made by contacting Graham House on (07) 4169 5040.
People seeking advice in Murgon, on a day the lawyer is not visiting the community, can arrange for telephone advice by contacting Graham House Community Centre.