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

MEDIA RELEASE: PM ignores human rights obligations

Last week the Federal Government responded to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR), where the international community evaluates human rights records and provides recommendations for how to improve. Of the 322 recommendations to improve its human rights standing, the Federal Government only accepted 128 recommendations.

MEDIA RELEASE: NT child protection reforms will harm children, not protect them

The Northern Territory’s proposed child protection reforms will harm children and families. NATSILS stands with NAAJA, the NT Children’s Commissioner, the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, and other Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and community leaders in calling for the Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 to be scrapped.

MEDIA RELEASE: Federal Budget fails to ensure access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) says the Federal Budget has ignored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with no new investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS).

MEDIA RELEASE: UN calls out Australia for racial discrimination while PM missing in action

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has handed down a scathing statement on the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia’s so-called criminal justice system.

MEDIA RELEASE: Children pay the price for justice system failures

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) shares its deepest condolences for the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby and stands in solidarity with the community in Mparntwe who mourn this tragic loss.

MEDIA RELEASE: “Don’t waste this opportunity” – Emergency summit on youth justice must be on PM’s agenda for Indigenous Conference

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) is calling for an emergency summit on youth justice to be on the Prime Minister’s agenda at the inaugural National Indigenous Labor Conference, taking place this weekend.