annual report 08-09 - Public Interest Advocacy Centre

During the year, the IJP expanded campaigns such as the Stolen
Wages and Stolen Generations projects and was involved in the
work of CID n AP. During this very busy period, the IJP benefited
from additional staff resources with the employment of a parttime
graduate solicitor from November 2008 until June 2009 and
the continued support of interns from the Aurora Native Title
Internship Program. The presence of additional staff in the IJP has
been invaluable, providing vital support to Stolen Wages clients
with registering claims to the Repayment Scheme and building
upon the IJP’s research capacity.
The IJP is set to receive additional staff resources in the coming
year with the recruitment of a solicitor for 12 months. The solicitor
in this position will work with the IJP and in the general litigation
practice. The creation of this position will enhance the capacity of
the IJP to become involved in strategic casework and litigation in
targeted areas. It will also allow the IJP to undertake more research
and public policy development to achieve systemic reforms
and improve justice outcomes for Aboriginals and Torres Strait
Islanders.
Policing & Corrections
PIAC is continuing its work with Aboriginal communities to
identify and address systemic issues arising in policing procedures
and practices that negatively impact on Aboriginal people in NSW.
PIAC is currently working with other community organisations to
develop a joint project to examine the efficacy of existing police
complaints processes and develop proposals to improve the
complaints system.
The IJP continues to have significant involvement in the CID n AP
project by providing advice and representation to Aboriginal
young people in false imprisonment and battery claims against
the NSW Police.
Other Indigenous Justice Work
PIAC is involved in several other projects with Aboriginal
communities. In partnership with Legal Aid NSW and NSW Legal
Assistance Forum Working Group of Aboriginal Clients, PIAC
developed a customised version of its Law for Non-Lawyers
training program for Aboriginal community workers as part of
a civil law resource project for the Aboriginal community in the
Northern Rivers area. The workshop was delivered in Lismore in
June 2009.
PIAC has developed a two-year pilot project through its Mental
Health Legal Services Project to provide improved support and
access to justice for Aboriginal men with mental illnesses and
complex needs through the Gamarada Men’s Healing Program.
(For more about the mental health pilot projects, see the report
later in this section.)
Stolen Wages
In 2008-09, PIAC continued its leadership of the campaign to
ensure that the NSW Government repay Aboriginal people in NSW
wages and other monies withheld in trust accounts by its agencies
and never repaid (Stolen Wages).
The Stolen Wages Project continues to be the key focus of the
work of the Indigenous Justice Program. In the past year, the
number of descendant claimants represented by PIAC rose to 202.
This represents a 36 per cent increase from the same time last year.
The number of direct claimants represented by PIAC remains at
45, unchanged from last year. Direct claimants continue to benefit
from the support of the joint PIAC-PILCH Stolen Wages Referral
Scheme, which provides legal representation to direct claimants
through seven PILCH member firms: Allens Arthur Robinson,
Deacons, Freehills, Gilbert+Tobin, Henry Davis York, HWL Ebsworth
and Minter Ellison lawyers.
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PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009