We are NATSILS, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services. We represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) around the country. We strive towards true justice for our communities built on community, culture and empowerment.
We advocate at the national and international level to reimagine the justice system, for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the justice system, and work to ensure that our people have equitable access to justice.
Our members have over 50 years’ experience in providing culturally safe legal help, community legal education, law reform and advocacy to our communities. Self-determination and cultural safety underpins everything we do.

What We Do

NATSILS advocates at the national and international level for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the justice system, for an end to injustices and for our people to have equitable access to justice.

We collaborate and coordinate with the legal assistance sector, national coalitions like Change the Record and the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Bodies

NATSILS calls for law reform and policy change like the implementation of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody recommendations and the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Pathways to Justice Inquiry so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are treated safely, with humanity and with dignity.

We coordinate and support ATSILS to provide community controlled, representative, high quality and accountable legal services that are culturally safe. This includes by sharing best practice and facilitating coordinated approaches.

NATSILS is the national peak body of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services who operate across Australia.

NATSILS members include:

Latest

NATSILS & JEC Joint Media Release: Prime Minister has the power to ensure children are safe and protected – it’s time for action.

Advice obtained from Senior Counsel by the Justice and Equity Centre makes clear that the Commonwealth has the Constitutional power to act on youth justice reform.

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: Scrap SA’s Street Gangs Bill – rushed, baseless and dangerous

NATSILS and Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) are concerned that the Street Gangs Bill, which is expected to be debated in South Australia’s Parliament this week will criminalise children for life, drive more children into prison, and ultimately make communities less safe.

NATSILS & ALRM JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: SA youth legislation is meant for ‘bikie gangs,’ will not prevent crime and will harm children

New legislation proposed in South Australia will have dire consequences for communities and will put more children through the criminal justice system.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: “No more Aboriginal deaths at the hands of police” – NATSILS signs open letter from Kumanjayi Walker’s family to NT Government

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) has joined with more than 20 organisations in signing an open letter from Kumanjayi Walker’s family to the Northern Territory Government, urging them to end Aboriginal deaths at the hands of police.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: NT Government’s horrific new plans to throw more children in prison and increase use of cruel spit hoods

If passed, a new bill to be introduced in the Northern Territory Parliament would see more children locked up in prison, and give prison guards more power to use force and dangerous tactics against them.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: SA Premier – Handing out NAIDOC awards with one hand and writing laws to lock up First Nations children with the other

Melissa Clarke, General Manager of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS), says the Premier has joined the race to the bottom in his approach to youth justice.