First Nations Justice Branch
We work with the First Nations community and Aboriginal community-led organisations to design and deliver justice-related programs.
What we do
We work with the First Nations Community to design and deliver justice-related programs.
We aim to:
- reduce the rate at which our people come into contact with the justice system, including reducing the rate of incarceration of First Nations people in the ACT
- partner with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to facilitate self-determination
- improve the ACT Government’s ability to hear and respond to Justice related concerns of the community
- drive meaningful justice reform that leads to greater wellbeing for the whole ACT community.
Our key programs
- Yarning Circles for Women facilitates yarning circles to support and empower First Nations women in the ACT.
- Yarning Circles for Men facilitates yarning circles to support and empower First Nations men in the ACT.
- Front Up supports people who have an outstanding warrant or have breached bail.
- Galambany Circle Sentencing Court Support provides support to attend the Galambany Circle Sentencing Court.
- Through Care Program provides support to First Nations people who are transitioning back to living in community.
- Ngurrambai Bail Support Program supports people who are applying for or on bail.
- Yarrabi Bamirr supports families who have contact with the justice system or have experienced intergenerational trauma. Programs are provided by Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, Yeddung Mura (Good Pathways) Aboriginal Corporation and Clybucca Dreaming.
- Yurwan Ghuda is a program designed for children and young people at risk of engaging with justice system. By providing grounding, cultural reconnection and healing through immersive, land-based learning. Each experience is designed to strengthen identity, belonging, and resilience in culturally safe environments.
- The Young Bruthas Healing Men’s Group responds to the complex social, cultural, and wellbeing needs of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in the ACT, particularly those affected by trauma, substance misuse, justice system involvement, and social disconnection.
Current activities
The First Nations Justice Branch has now completed the Design Phase of the commissioning process, marked by the completion of all three Community workshops and their corresponding Working Group deliberations. JACS will commence the Invest and Deliver phases, working with our current service providers and will provide regular updates to Community as this progresses.
Contact us
