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.

NATSILS also works to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services are adequately funded and equipped to provide high quality and culturally safe legal assistance services.

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 Media Release – NATSILS Appoints New Co-Chair Priscilla Atkins

NATSILS is pleased to announce the appointment of new Chairperson, Priscilla Atkins. Priscilla is an Eastern Arrernte woman from Central Australia, and is the CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), the largest legal service in the Northern Territory; a position she has held since 2007.

NATSILS Media Release – Invasion Day 2021

January 26 is ‘Invasion Day’ for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Also known as ‘Survival Day’ or ‘Day of Mourning,’ January 26 is not a date for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to celebrate.

Joint Media Release – United Nations Periodic Review

Joint Media Release: United Nations slams Australia’s treatment of First Nations people and calls onAustralia to Raise the Age in Universal Periodic Review

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: 30 years later and over 441 senseless deaths—Families whose loved ones have died in custody unite to demand answers from Prime Minister on anniversary of Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

Fifteen families whose loved ones have died in custody have united together in solidarity, calling for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to meet with them face to face on the 30 year anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Urgent scrutiny of police powers and urgent access for legal observers at Djab Wurrung sacred trees site

Human rights and legal organisations have condemned a police operation targeting Djab Wurrung protestors who are protecting sacred Djab Wurrung trees in Victoria and are calling for urgent scrutiny of police powers and access for legal observers to monitor police actions during the protest.