Services

The Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Limited (ALSWA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and is the leading provider of specialist legal advice, support services and advocacy for First Nations Peoples in Western Australia.

ALSWA works in collaboration and partnership with communities and key government and non-government partners to rectify legal policies and practices that impact adversely and disproportionately on the legal and human rights of WA’s First Peoples.

A not-for-profit organisation, ALSWA is governed by a Board of Directors who are all Aboriginal.

The cultural values of Care, Share and Respect form the foundation of ALSWA and underpin ALSWA’s commitment to clients, families and communities.

ALSWA’s Executive Management Team is responsible for the day to day management of the organisation, its staff and twelve statewide offices. Embracing a human rights based approach, ALSWA’s professional and culturally appropriate service delivery model ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples feel comfortable accessing the service.

ALSWA is a public company limited by guarantee registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. ALSWA is also a public benevolent institution registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

ALSWA is proud of its long history in striving for justice and is guided by the principles of Human Rights, Lore, Leadership, Integrity, Diversity and Unity.

The growth and development of ALSWA would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of so many community members and supporters since the late 1960’s.

ALSWA has been striving for justice for First Nations Peoples for over 50 years.

Civil Law and Human Rights Unit

The Civil Law and Human Rights Unit empowers the Aboriginal community by providing culturally secure legal advice and representation in:

• Coronial investigations and inquests
• Racial discrimination (including complaints in relation to overt differential treatment on the basis of race and the use of racial slurs)
• Police accountability (including complaints and/or civil action including personal injuries claims)
• Prisoners’ rights (including complaints and/or civil action in relation to serious incidents of poor treatment and discrimination)
• Young people in the justice system
• Government accountability (including complaints and/or civil action against the Public Transport Authority and other government agencies in relation to serious incidents of poor treatment and discrimination)
• False imprisonment (including claims for unlawful detention by police and prisons)

Staff from the Civil Law and Human Rights Unit are Perth based but provide a statewide service which includes outreach trips to regional areas on a regular basis.

Clients with special or complex needs are given priority, especially whose situations prevent them from representing themselves and where unfairness or injustice to them would result in the event we did not assist.

The Civil Law and Human Rights Unit also undertakes national and international human rights policy work and law reform.

Criminal Law – Perth Criminal Law Unit and
ALSWA Regional Offices

Lawyers and Court Officers* in ALSWA’s Perth Criminal Law Unit and in each of ALSWA’s regional offices provide a comprehensive range of criminal law services to clients in the Magistrates Court, Children’s Court, District Court and Supreme Court.

Advice and representation is provided for every type of court matter, including remands, bail applications, sentencing hearings, pleas of not guilty, jury trials and appeals.

ALSWA lawyers and Court Officers* also visit clients in metropolitan and regional prisons as well as Banksia Hill Detention Centre.

ALSWA strives to provide a culturally secure legal service and where needed will inform courts of cultural matters and obligations, language and communication issues and customary law.

*ALSWA Court Officers are Aboriginal people who advise and act for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in WA Courts under a
certificate granted under section 48 of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning
Authority Act 1972 (WA)

Family Law and Child Protection

ALSWA assists parents or family members if child protection becomes involved. This could be when child protection are trying to remove a child or have already removed a child from a family. ALSWA can represent parents or family in the Children’s Court when child protection ask the Court to make a protection order for a child or can assist at pre-birth meetings if child protection are thinking about how to protect the baby.

Assistance may also be provided in Family Court child parenting matters, if capacity allows.

ALSWA helps family members come to an agreement that is best for the child/children without going to the Family Court (where possible) and can provide referrals to mediation services.

Family Law and Child Protection

ALSWA assists parents or family members if child protection becomes involved. This could be when child protection are trying to remove a child or have already removed a child from a family. ALSWA can represent parents or family in the Children’s Court when child protection ask the Court to make a protection order for a child or can assist at pre-birth meetings if child protection are thinking about how to protect the baby.

Assistance may also be provided in Family Court child parenting matters, if capacity allows.

ALSWA helps family members come to an agreement that is best for the child/children without going to the Family Court (where possible) and can provide referrals to mediation services.

Bail Support Service (BSS) and
Prison In-Reach Legal Service (PIR)

The objective of the Bail Support Service/Prison In-Reach Legal Service (BSS/PIR) is to reduce avoidable remand by providing eligible adult clients earlier access to bail through creating suitable bail plans or helping to identify surety options. BSS/PIR support eligible clients who are on bail by helping clients comply with their bail conditions as well as supporting clients’ general needs such as:

• assistance locating accommodation;
• referrals for counselling and employment/training; and
• help to access mental health and NDIS supports.

The Bail Support Service operates in Perth and Broome. Eligible clients for Perth are ALSWA clients who have matters in the Perth Magistrates Court and Perth District Court and, for Broome, ALSWA clients with matters in the Broome or Derby Magistrates Court and District Court.

Community Legal Education (CLE)

ALSWA strives to advance the legal rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through its delivery of Community Legal Education (CLE) in Perth and regional WA.

ALSWA welcomes enquiries about opportunities to participate in CLE activities. An application form can be found at www.als.org.au or email CLE@als.org.au

Law Matters Radio Program

ALSWA has produced and presented the fortnightly ‘Law Matters’ radio program since 2010. Broadcast live from 100.9FM Noongar Radio in Boorloo (Perth), Law Matters is repeated via the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS), Waringarri Media and 6DBY Larrkardi Radio. Archived programs are available to listen online via the ALSWA website www.als.org.au.

Media and Public Relations

ALSWA plays an active role in advocating and speaking out about the complex issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples within the justice system. ALSWA services are widely promoted to ensure that community members have easy access to legal information and services. Media Enquiries should be directed to ALSWA’s Media and Public Relations Manager at media@als.org.au

The Custody Notification Service (CNS)

The Custody Notification Service (CNS) is a phone support service operating state-wide 24 hours per day, seven days per week that supports Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons (adults and children) who have been arrested or apprehended by WA Police and detained in a police facility (irrespective of the reason).
CNS Lawyers and Aboriginal Support Workers are trained to carefully respond to the concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and they will do everything they can to ensure police meet their duty of care to Aboriginal people taken into custody by:

• conducting a thorough and culturally competent welfare check;
• providing appropriate early fundamental legal advice; and
• referring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the most appropriate services to address ongoing welfare and legal needs.

Custody Wellbeing Service (CWS)

Located in the Perth Watch House, the Custody Wellbeing Service (CWS) provides in-person culturally secure support to Aboriginal people detained at the Perth Watch House. The Aboriginal CWS support workers assist detainees by:

• identifying immediate medical and other wellbeing needs;
• providing cultural counselling and mentoring;
• providing referrals to ALSWA services (for legal needs and supports) and to external services (where appropriate);
• supporting and facilitating contact with the detainee’s family and/or other support persons as required.

The CWS Support Workers work onsite at the Perth Watch House from Monday to Thursday 4 pm to midnight.

Work and Development Permit (WDP) Service

The Work and Development Permit (WDP) Scheme is an alternative way for people experiencing hardship to pay down court fine debt. It is delivered in partnership with the Department of Justice, ALSWA and Legal Aid WA.

Under a WDP, a person can engage in a wide variety of programs, services, treatments and activities with support agencies (known as WDP Sponsors) and pay off their court fines at the same time.

ALSWA provides a WDP Service to support existing and potential culturally secure WDP Sponsors, as well as providing fines related advice to Aboriginal people and links to sponsors.

Youth Engagement Program (YEP)

The Youth Engagement Program (YEP) provides holistic, culturally-secure, individualised and flexible support to ALSWA clients appearing in the Perth, Broome, Derby, Kununurra, Wyndham, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing Children’s Courts.

YEP Diversion Officers provide a range of support and services including:

• mentoring;
• court support;
• advocacy;
• referrals to external services;
• case management;
• transport assistance;
• support at appointments with various external agencies including Youth Justice Services;
• accommodation assistance;
• assistance to reengage in education and/or training;
• support to attend medical appointments and check-ups;
• practical help (such as obtaining birth certificates, Medicare cards, bank accounts and Centrelink payments); and
• participation in cultural and recreational activities.

The five YEP sites are:

• YEP-M (YEP Metro)
• YEP-WK (YEP West Kimberley)
• YEP-EK (YEP East Kimberley)
• YEP-HC (YEP Halls Creek)
• YEP-FC (YEP Fitzroy Crossing)

YEP is being expanded to Geraldton and is expected to commence in
July 2025.

Family and Domestic Violence Hubs

ALSWA supports two Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) Hubs/Healing Services:

• Waullo Dawn Healing Service and the Koolark Healing Service; and
• Mara Pirni Healing Place.

The Waullo Dawn Healing Service and the Koolark Healing Service are located in Armadale and operated by Hope Community Services Limited in partnership with Yorgum Healing Services, Ngala, Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services, Women’s Legal Service WA, Marmum Mia-Mia Aboriginal Corporation, 360 Health, Ruah Community Services and ALSWA.

ALSWA provides a lawyer at the hub to provide legal advice and assistance to hub clients as well as referrals to other appropriate legal services where ALSWA is unable to assist.

In Kalgoorlie, the Mara Pirni Healing Place is operated by Hope Community Services Limited in partnership with Wanslea Family Services, Ngunytju Tjitji Pirni Aboriginal Corporation (NTP), One Tree Community Services and ALSWA. The ALSWA paralegal at the hub provides legal information to clients at the hub including warm referrals to appropriate legal assistance providers as well as undertaking community legal education.