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 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.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: NATSILS calls on PM Albanese to act on emergency justice

With more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prison than ever before, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services is calling on the Prime Minister to take a leadership role to transform the justice system.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: Immediate action and independent investigation required following NT death in custody

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) is supporting the call by family and community for an independent investigation into the death of Kumanjayi White in Northern Territory Police custody last week.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: National trend of policies to lock up kids will destroy lives and increase crime

A frightening national trend of governments deciding to lock up children will destroy lives and make communities more dangerous.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: Federal Budget ignores repeated, urgent calls for critical funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services

The 2025-26 Federal Budget ignores repeated, urgent calls for critical funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, undermining access to justice and perpetuating inequality.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: Australian children under threat as dangerous laws pass in Queensland

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services have condemned the passage of Queensland’s ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws, which will backfire and make communities more dangerous.