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Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia

Headquarters address
Organization's name:	Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
Organization's acronym:	ZAP
Former Name(s):	ZAP
Address:	Picadilly Square, 7 Aberdeen Street, Perth WA 6000 PO Box 8194, Perth Bus Ctr, WA 6849 ZAP Australia
Phone:	+61892656666
Fax:	+61892656636
Email:	un@als.org.au
Web site:	www.als.org.au

Organization type:	Indigenous Peoples Organizations
Languages::	English

Contacts & Participation:

First Name:	Last Name:	Contact Type:
Dennis	Eggington	Head of Organization
Dennis	Eggington	Head of Organization
Eddie	Cubillo	Designation
Sarouche	Razi	Others
Shane	Duffy	Designation

Activities

Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:	Economic and Social: Criminal Justice Human Rights Indigenous Peoples Justice Social Development Social Development: Indigenous issues
Geographic scope:	Local
Country of activity:	Australia
Mission statement:	The Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (Inc.) (ALSWA) has been providing legal advice, representation and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Australia for more than 30 years. ALSWA provides these services in a range of practice areas including criminal, civil, family and human rights and international law; provides support to incacerated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and advocates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in regards to policy, law reform, community legal education and media. Its services are available throughout Western Australia via 17 regional remote offices and a head office Perth. ALSWA is committed to advocating for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through every avenue from the local to international level, by drawing on the principles of international human rights law.
Year established (YYYY):	1975
Year of registration (YYYY):	2000
Organizational structure:	ALSWA is incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1987 (WA) and is governed according to a Constitution. Its members, who are Aboriginal peoples, constitute ALSWA. Staff members who are eligible are encouraged to become members of ALSWA. Members may participate in the Annual General Meeting of ALSWA and other meetings. The Executive Committee is the supreme governing body of ALSWA. It is elected by members and consists of two representatives from each of the eight regions in Western Australia. Staff members are not eligible for election, but the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Director of Legal Services (DLS) are ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee elects the President who chairs meetings and represents the Committee. The Executive Committee sets the policies of ALSWA and appoints the CEO and DLS. There are four members of senior management, which comprise the Senior Management Committee. The CEO is the senior manager of ALSWA and is responsible for the management of the organisation. All staff members are responsible to the CEO and the CEO is responsible to the Executive Committee. The CEO is the chief spokesperson for ALSWA, and represents the organisation to government, the Aboriginal and wider communities. The Executive Officer (EO) assists the CEO and has particular responsibility for financial control and reporting, oversees administrative and support services and training. The EO deputises in many matters for the CEO and is acting CEO in the absence of the CEO. The EO also represents ALSWA to government, the Aboriginal and wider communities. The Director of Legal Services (DLS) conducts the legal practice, and has particular responsibility for all legal practitioners and Court Officers. The DLE also administers all briefing and advises Senior Management and the Executive Committee in legal matters such as assistance policies and law reform. The DLS also represents ALSWA to government, the Aboriginal and wider communities and the legal profession in legal matters. The Practice Manager assists the DLS. The Senior Management Committee considers matters of management significance, and will set policies and procedures. The Committee may require the advice of other staff from time to time, and senior managers may defer particular decisions to that Committee. All staff members are notified of whom they are directly responsible to in their duty statement. Line managers are responsible to Senior Management, and matters to be raised with Senior Management are to be first raised with the direct line managers.
Number and type of members:	There are presently 4903 members of ALSWA, subject to an upcoming review of deceased members. All members reside in Australia and are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Affiliation with NGO networks:	IPO Network of Australia, and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services in Australia
Funding structure:	Donations and grants from domestic sources
Funding structure other:	ALSWA receives funding from the federal government

Additional Information

Social Development
Accreditation to:	Indigenous Forum
Affiliation with other organizations:	All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations in the state of Western Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (Qld) Ltd. (ATSILS Qld) Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc (ALRM) Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) (ALS(NSW/ACT)) Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS) North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) Indigenous Peoples Organisations Network of Australia
Publications:	"Telling Our Story" Research Report on Removal of Aboriginal Children from their Families in WA (1995). "After the Removal" Submission to the National Inquiry into Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families,(1996).
Purpose of the organization:	ALSWA aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and advance their interests and aspirations through a comprehensive range of legal and support services throughout Western Australia. In contemporary and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies, it is important to recognise the significance of land, family relationships, language, cultural values and traditional law. ALSWA recognises the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is committed to protecting and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and aspirations. ALSWA uses the law and legal system to bring about social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a whole. ALSWA develops and uses strategies in areas of legal advice, legal representation, legal education, legal research, policy development and law reform. ALSWA believes that responsibilities go hand in hand with rights. While recognising that many people are victims of unjust systems in the wider community, ALSWA encourages groups and individuals to exercise personal responsibilities. ALSWA is responsive to change and is committed to developing a statewide network of services that are accessible by all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. ALSWA understands that co-operation with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations, Government, other legal services and relevant agencies is an essential component of the work it does. ALSWA aims to: • Deliver a comprehensive range of culturally-matched and quality legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Western Australia, • Provide leadership which contributes to participation, empowerment and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Indigenous people of Australia, • Ensure that Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples address the underlying issues that contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage on all social indicators, and implement the relevant recommendations arising from the Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, and • Create a positive and culturally-matched work environment by implementing efficient and effective practices and administration throughout ALSWA.
Confirmation of the activities of the organization at the regional, national or international level:	ALSWA provides legal advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a wide range of practice areas including criminal law, civil law, family law as well as human rights law and policy. Its service is available throughout Western Australia via 17 regional and remote offices and one head office in Perth. ALSWA's core activities occur at the local level. ALSWA provides a duty service at many metropolitan and country courts, which includes bail applications, remands and pleas. There is a legal advice service during weekday office hours. In emergencies, legal advice can be provided by phone after hours. Lawyers and Court Officers visit prison and lockups to provide prisoners with legal advice and represent people in trials or appeals. ALSWA criminal law staff also makes sure the criminal courts know about cultural matters that apply, such as different styles of communication and punishment. ALSWA provides legal advice in all types of family law issues, including custody, access and care and protection matters, and lawyers represent people in the Family Court and the Children’s Court. ALSWA family law staff also makes sure courts that deal with family law issues know about cultural matters that apply, including communication, how children are raised, and the importance of children and family in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. ALSWA provides legal advice in certain types of civil law and human rights matters, including discrimination, compensation for injury, police complaints, wills and debt. Our lawyers take instructions, respond to enquiries, and help prepare letters and documents. ALSWA advises the government and mainstream organisations about law, justice and human rights issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Western Australia. ALSWA works towards advancing the legal and human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through policy and law reform and community legal education. Law and Advocacy has recently extended to international human rights law research, policy, advocacy, education and training. Community and prisoner support is provided by ALSWA for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Australia. This includes visiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the community, in refuges and in prisons and providing support and referral so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can access ALSWA and other services as required. All ALSWA services are available to prisoners and ALSWA runs a prisoner support and rehabilitation program.
A list of members of the governing body of the organization, and their countries of nationality:	All members of the Executive Committee are of Australian nationality and identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Executive Committee consists of sixteen elected members, comprising two elected members in each of the eight regions in Western Australia who can serve a term of three years. Executive Committee: - Rosetta Sahanna, President, West Kimberley Region - Murray Yarran Vice President, Central Metro Region - Veronica Williams-Bennell, Secretary, Goldfields Region - Michael Blurton Central Metro Region - Ian Tucker, Goldfields Region - Beverly Thomas, Central Desert Region - Preston Thomas, Central Desert Region - Judith Butters, East Kimberley Region - Lorraine Whitby, Murchison/Gascoyne Region - Violet Whitby, Murchison/Gascoyne Region - Phyllis Simmons, Pilbara Region - Victor Woodly, Pilbara Region - Olivia Roberts, Southern Region - Dean Colbung, Southern Region.
Description of the membership of the organization, indicating the total number of members:	There are presently 4903 members of ALSWA, subject to an upcoming review of deceased members. All members reside in Australia and are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Main Objective

Social Development
Username: ALSWA