A trial program in Canberra’s south is quietly kicking goals as the ACT Government strives to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system.

The Aboriginal organisation Yeddung Mura, or Good Pathways in Ngunnawal language, and ACT Corrective Services joined forces mid last year to establish an alternative reporting site for people fulfilling corrections orders in the community.

The Yeddung Mura External Reporting Site operates every Tuesday in Fadden to offer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people an alternative location to meet the supervision requirements of their community-based orders.

Community Corrections Cultural Engagement Officer April Rich is a weekly witness to the benefits of the culturally appropriate program to encourage members of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to meet their obligations.

“Prior to this alternative reporting site at Fadden, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients could only report to the ACT Corrective Services office on London Circuit in Civic,” Ms Rich said.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a history of anxiety relating to past treatment of First Nations people, especially with government-led programs.

“The Yeddung Mura site provides a safe and culturally appropriate point of contact with ACT Corrective Services without compromising the clients’ feelings of safety or their emotional wellbeing.”

The reporting site is located at the Yeddung Mura Aboriginal Corporation office in Fadden. Also available are other relevant cultural services on site and the valuable opportunity to yarn with Aboriginal Elders.

“Having the reporting site at this location provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients the opportunity to report in an environment that is culturally appropriate and safe,” Ms Rich said.

The Yeddung Mura site continues to grow in popularity.

Since the site reopened last November after the COVID-19 lockdown, more referrals have been coming in and the growth has been credited to word of mouth through the community and the staff who have discussed it with their clients.

“We see anywhere from two to six clients each week depending on their reporting requirements. Some clients like to come each week just to have a yarn about how they are doing,” Ms Rich said.

“The feedback from people who attend each week has been positive. The clients have stated that they feel a lot more comfortable and have less anxiety with attending their supervision.”

Pastor Priestly Obed, the Chief Executive Officer for Yeddung Mura thanked staff at ACT Corrective Services for working with Yeddung Mura to respond to the community needs in establishing the external reporting site.