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: “Yet again, the Budget lets our people down” – Lack of funding for Aboriginal Legal Services further entrenches our people into the justice system

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (NATSILS) is concerned that no additional funding for legal assistance services or peak justice body will further see our people disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal legal system.

NATSILS Media Release: Young Noongar man dies in custody in Perth

NATSILS is deeply saddened to learn of the death of young Noongar man in Perth’s Hakea prison over the weekend. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.

NATSILS AND CHANGE THE RECORD MEDIA STATEMENT: ROLFE VERDICT

Change the Record and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services have expressed their dismay that once again an Aboriginal person has died in custody with no consequences.

Joint Media Release: The use of spit hoods and restraint chairs on NT children, a national shame

Peak national justice, child welfare and advocacy groups have joined calls for the Northern Territory Government to stop using spit hoods and restraints on children. ACOSS, Change the Record, NATSILS, Save the Children and the Human Rights Law Centre call on the NT Government to implement recommendations from the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children, as promised.

NATSILS MEDIA RELEASE: “Our worst fears realised” – COVID-19 prison outbreaks risk Black deaths in custody

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) is extremely concerned at reports of growing COVID-19 infection rates in prisons across the country, and the real risk for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody.

NATSILS Media Release: Genocide, dispossession, stolen children, violence and racism – January 26 is not a date to celebrate

‘Invasion Day’, ‘Survival Day’, ‘Day of Mourning’ – January 26 marks the beginning of genocide, dispossession, stolen children and wages, systemic violence and racism toward Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in so-called Australia.