News « Offender health « Population groups « Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

High rates of hearing impairment for Indigenous inmates

22 May 2013

High rates of ear infections or &lsquo;otitis media' in Aboriginal communities contribute significantly to social disadvantage and impact on children's capacity to learn.

WA HealthInfoNet post-workshop survey

20 May 2013

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has undertaken a pilot workshop program in WA to help those working in Indigenous health to get the most from our website.

Legislation for mandatory alcohol treatment in Northern Territory unveiled

15 May 2013

The draft bill for mandatory alcohol treatment outlining how the legislation will force problem drinkers into treatment has been unveiled.

WA increases focus on efforts to keep people out of prison

14 May 2013

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda has welcomed moves by the Western Australian (WA) government towards a justice reinvestment approach to the criminal justice system.

National crime prevention fund for youth mentoring and outreach programs

8 May 2013

The Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice, Jason Clare has announced a $40 million National crime prevention fund to be funded from confiscated proceeds of crime.

Young Indigenous people continue to be overrepresented in youth justice system

1 May 2013

A report, Youth justice in Australia 2011-12: an overview, by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released information on young people aged 10-17 years who are under youth justice supervision in Australia due to their involvement or alleged involvement in crime.

Report highlights disadvantage among Indigenous offenders

17 April 2013

A report comparing sentencing outcomes for Koori and non-Koori adult offenders in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria has found that Indigenous offenders are more likely to receive a term in prison rather than an order supervised in the community compared with&nbsp;their non- Indigenous counterparts.

Extra money for NAAJA to provide early intervention to support Indigenous youth in the NT

10 April 2013

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) will receive an extra $338,000 from the Australian Government to provide early intervention services to Indigenous youth in the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Greater justice for people with FASD

9 April 2013

A report by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the West Australian (WA) justice system recommends further training and education to raise awareness of FASD and alternate sentencing options that consider the neurocognitive impairments associated with FASD.

Behaviour change program reconnects families

3 April 2013

The Helem Yumba Central Queensland Healing Centre is supporting people to address violent behaviour and substance use through the Gatharr weyebe banabe program.

Victorian Aboriginal justice agreement launched

20 March 2013

Phase three of the Victorian Aboriginal justice agreement (AJA3) was launched on 13 March, 2013 at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Melbourne.

Online newsletter for Indigenous offender health research launched

13 March 2013

The Indigenous Offender Health Research Capacity Building Group (IOHR-CBG) has launched an online version of its biannual newsletter through the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website.

WA justice system - expensive and ineffective

6 March 2013

A new report on the prison system in Western Australia (WA) calls for increased resources in justice reinvestment and a greater emphasis on evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies for offending.

BushMob helping young people tackle substance use in Alice Springs

28 February 2013

The Australian Government is investing more than $1.8 million in BushMob, a successful program in Alice Springs that helps young people stay free of alcohol and other drugs.

Free HealthInfoNet workshops in Albany, WA - 11-13 March 2013

20 February 2013

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet will be in Albany, Western Australia delivering free workshops from the 11th - 13th March 2013.

$100 million boost for Aboriginal youth in Northern Territory

20 February 2013

The Australian Government is investing $100 million over the next 10 years in the Youth in communities program, a major initiative that is helping thousands of young Aboriginal people become more engaged with school, work and community life in the Northern Territory.

Social Justice Commissioner welcomes new report on prison vs residential treatment

6 February 2013

A new report by Deloitte Access Economics highlights the cost and health benefits of diversionary programs and community residential rehabilitation for Indigenous peoples who have been convicted of non-violent, substance use related offences.

Shane Phillips receives Australia's 2013 Local Hero Award

5 February 2013

Indigenous leader, Shane Phillips who helped develop the Clean slate without prejudice program in Redfern, New South Wales (NSW) has been awarded Australia's Local Hero 2013 in the Australian of the Year Awards.

Indigenous justice program funding

29 January 2013

The Attorney-General's Department is providing funding through the Indigenous justice program for projects that aim to reduce adverse contact of Indigenous Australians with the criminal justice system.

HealthInfoNet workshops in the South West of WA - Bunbury and Busselton

24 January 2013

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet will be in the South West of WA delivering free workshops from the 11th - 15th February 2013.

New family violence legal service planned for Perth

15 January 2013

The Western Australian (WA) Government will provide $600,000 a year for a metropolitan legal service for Indigenous victims of family violence, including victims of sexual abuse.

Plan to open Aboriginal Youth Healing Centre in New South Wales in response to high rates of youth incarceration

9 January 2013

An innovative community initiated service, the Aboriginal Youth Healing Centre (AYHC) is currently being planned for western New South Wales in response to the high levels of incarceration for Aboriginal youth.

Senate Inquiry to investigate the 'value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia'

27 November 2012

The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples recently welcomed a Senate Inquiry to investigate the implementation of justice reinvestment in Australia.

Indigenous justice advocates nominated as Australia's Local Hero 2013 State Finalists

8 November 2012

Two Indigenous justice advocates are State Finalists for the 2013 Australia's Local Hero Awards.

Justice reinvestment campaign champions discuss new policy approach with NSW Government

25 October 2012

Advocates for the Justice reinvestment campaign for Aboriginal young people had a landmark meeting with members of the New South Wales (NSW) Government to discuss the over-representation of Indigenous youth in correctional facilities.

Inmates and correctional staff raise funds for Red Dust health promotion programs

16 October 2012

More than $80,000 was raised for Indigenous charity group Red Dust Role Models during the recent national Walkabout week.

West Kimberley Regional Prison scheduled to open end of October 2012

10 October 2012

A new prison in the Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA) is scheduled to receive its first inmates on 22 October this year.

Qld Government announces closure of Murri courts program for Indigenous offenders

3 October 2012

The Queensland (Qld) State Government has announced that it will shut down the Murri courts program - including the Indigenous, Drug and Special Circumstances courts that sentence Indigenous offenders who plead guilty to an offence which falls within the jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court.

Report into Aboriginal service delivery in the Northern Territory (NT) makes 12 recommendations

2 October 2012

A report into spending on service delivery in remote Aboriginal communities recommends a reassessment of priorities and greater transparency.

HealthInfoNet workshops coming to the Gascoyne/Midwest in November

20 September 2012

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet workshops are coming to the Gascoyne/Midwest region in November.

Decline in Indigenous youth incarceration rates in Australia

5 September 2012

A report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in August 2012 has noted a decline in Indigenous youth detention rates across Australia.

HealthInfoNet workshops in the Pilbara (now including Newman)

4 September 2012

The HealthInfoNet will be in the Pilbara next week delivering free workshops from September 10th to the 17th.

HealthInfoNet workshops in the Pilbara

27 August 2012

There are still places available to participate in upcoming Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (AIH) workshops in the Pillbara region of Western Australia (WA).

Australian Medical Association releases position statement on health and the criminal justice system

21 August 2012

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) released a new position statement on Health and the criminal justice system (2012) on 15 August at the Justice health in Australia: equity in health care symposium in Canberra.

Research on alcohol use among Indigenous Qld inmates indicates more treatment options are needed

7 August 2012

New research shows Indigenous prisoners in Queensland (Qld) are twice as likely to have alcohol-related problems than other inmates.

Funding extension for IPROWD program announced

6 August 2012

A $2.4 million funding extension from the Australian Government will give an extra 240 Indigenous Australians an opportunity to join the New South Wales (NSW) police force.

HealthInfoNet attending the Western Australian drug and alcohol conference on 7 August

6 August 2012

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet will be running a cafe tomorrow the 7 August (2012) at the Western Australian drug and alcohol conference.

HealthInfoNet workshops in the Kimberley

31 July 2012

The HealthInfoNet will be in the Kimberley next week delivering free workshops from August 6th to the 17th.

NT Chief Magistrate participates in bush court circuit

27 July 2012

The Chief Magistrate of the Northern Territory (NT), Hilary Hannam, says a lack of resources and technology on the bush court circuit is affecting the delivery of justice.

First Indigenous students graduate from IPROWD program in NSW

13 July 2012

The first graduates from a training program, which began running at TAFE earlier this year, have begun to forge a career pathway in the justice system.

Barkly Work Camp receives award for reducing recidivism as part of NAIDOC Week 2012

6 July 2012

The Minister for Correctional Services and Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy, commended staff and inmates at Barkly Work Camp in the Northern Territory (NT) this week.

A new resource by BIMA Projects summarises what happens after someone has been charged with an offence

5 July 2012

BIMA Projects, part of the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association, have recently produced a podcast that concisely summarises with what happens after a person has been charged with an offence.

Prevalence of mental illness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland prisons article published

2 July 2012

An article on the prevalence of mental disorder among Indigenous people in Queensland prisons was published today (2 July) in the Medical journal of Australia (MJA).

Plans to expand county Koori courts in Victoria

28 June 2012

The Victorian State Government has announced plans to retain a county Koori court beyond its pilot stage, following an evaluation report.

Justice: a history of the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA wins 2012 Margaret Medcalf Award

20 June 2012

Dr Fiona Skyring has been awarded the 2012 Margaret Medcalf Award for her book titled&nbsp;Justice: a history of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia.

Vic Government grants available for programs preventing violence in Koori communities

20 June 2012

Crime Prevention Minister, Andrew McIntosh, has announced funding of almost $3 million for community grants under the Community crime prevention program and Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement.&nbsp;Minister McIntosh said that the funding would empower local Koori communities to develop programs to strengthen community safety across Victoria (Vic), which is one of the government's highest priorities.

Glebe Youth Service receives funding to help keep youth off the streets

4 June 2012

Glebe Youth Service (GYS) has been given a $400,000 grant from the City of Sydney to help provide young people alternatives to hanging out on the streets late at night.

Art by prisoners program provides therapy for SA inmates

1 June 2012

An art program has proved a source of therapy for some inmates in South Australian (SA) prisons.

Indigenous police recruitment course inspires students to join the force

31 May 2012

Indigenous people looking to join the police force are getting a head start through a new training program being run in New South Wales (NSW).

Australian nurse-family partnership program receives funding to continue

24 May 2012

A pilot program of the Australian Government has received funding to continue its operations for the next three years in Alice Springs, Northern Territory (NT).

Call for further remote area rehabilitation services

23 May 2012

An Aboriginal legal aid organisation says the Northern Territory (NT) Government must provide more alcohol rehabilitation services in remote Indigenous communities.

WA's newest police station opens in remote Indigenous community of Looma

14 May 2012

Western Australia's newest police station was officially opened on May 10, 2012, in Looma, Western Australia (WA).

Applications open for Criminal property confiscation grants program

9 May 2012

Attorney General Christian Porter launched the latest round of the Criminal property confiscation grants program on 2 May 2012.

Further legislation introduced to support NT alcohol reforms

7 May 2012

New legislation was passed in the Northern Territory (NT) parliament on 3 May 2012, which expands on the existing alcohol reforms.

Concern over offenders being held under custodial supervision orders in the NT

4 May 2012

A recent Radio National story from the Law Report program, investigated the criminal justice situation in the Northern Territory (NT), which has seen prisoners forced to share overcrowded cells and scarce facilities.&nbsp;In NT prisons, more than 80% of the prison population are Aboriginal Australians.

Aboriginal community of Amata in SA announces community night patrols

3 May 2012

The South Australian (SA) community of Amata has launched a trial of neighbourhood watch night patrols.

Justice reinvestment campaign for Aboriginal young people launched in NSW

2 May 2012

The Justice reinvestment campaign for Aboriginal young people was launched on 2 May 2012, by the Justice Reinvestment for Aboriginal Young People Working Group.

Halo program continues to help young offenders transition into the community

1 May 2012

Danika Nayna from Newslines Radio, a weekly program produced by the Australian Government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, recently visited the Joe Cooper Centre in Perth.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to discuss strategies to reduce Indigenous deaths in custody

26 April 2012

Brisbane archdiocese's Murri Ministry and the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) will invite Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman, to meet to discuss issues surrounding Indigenous incarceration.

Northern Territory Budget 2012 delivers $20 million investment into correctional services

26 April 2012

A $20.2 million investment in correctional services was announced by Correctional Services Minister Gerry McCarthy on 22 April 2012.

Indigenous justice groups disappointed by lack of target at COAG meeting

20 April 2012

The Council of Australian Governments met last week (13 April 2012), where the Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers and the President discussed issues including Closing the gap targets.

Young Indigenous woman forges a career in the justice system

19 April 2012

A young Indigenous woman has forged a career for herself with Corrective Services New South Wales (CSNSW), working in a role overseeing staff and inmate policy and systems.

Aboriginal youth health access program an Aboriginal Health Award finalist

19 April 2012

A Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network-run program was a recent finalist in New South Wales' 2012 Aboriginal Health Awards.

Dr Morseu-Diop wins Churchill Fellowship to research healing programs for offenders

17 April 2012

Dr Noritta Morseu-Diop, a Torres Strait Islander women from Thursday Island, has won a Churchill Fellowship to travel to the United States and Canada.

Whitelion seeks support to help save young lives

17 April 2012

Whitelion, a not-for-profit organisation operating in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australian and Tasmania, are seeking more volunteers to help out with their cause.

Participants wanted for Indigenous youth employment program in Melbourne

11 April 2012

A specialised employment program for young Indigenous offenders, or youth who are 'at risk', is looking for participants in the Melbourne metropolitan area.

Literacy program offered to young Queensland offenders

2 April 2012

The Townsville Writers and Publishers Centre is launching a voluntary reading and writing program at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville, north Queensland.

Funding boost for Northern Territory communities: Stronger futures initiative

30 March 2012

A $619 million funding boost will improve services in remote communities across the Northern Territory (NT) for the next 10 years, as part of the Stronger futures in the Northern Territory package.

Indigenous graduates to take part in 'Prison officer in training program'

29 March 2012

Six Indigenous Territorians are on their way to a career in correctional services after recently completing the inaugural Pre-prison officer in training program.

National Congress of Australia's First Peoples calls for justice target

23 March 2012

The Indigenous representative body of Australia, the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, has recently called for a target relating to justice be added to existing Closing the Gap targets which are monitored by Australian governments.

Indigenous ex-offender employment strategies examined in new Clearinghouse papers

23 March 2012

Two new papers on overcoming Indigenous disadvantage have been released by the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, a jointly funded venture by all Australian Governments that is delivered by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Justice reinvestment plan could reduce Indigenous imprisonment

22 March 2012

A concept known as 'justice reinvestment' is gaining momentum as a means of reducing Indigenous imprisonment rates.

Midnight basketball program helps reduce youth crime in Kempsey

22 March 2012

The New South Wales town of Kempsey has implemented a social inclusion program for its youth to help reduce substance use and criminal activity.

Indigenous inmates in the Northern Territory suffer hearing loss

21 March 2012

As many as 9 out of ten Aboriginal inmates in Northern Territory (NT) jails suffer significant hearing loss, according to recent research to be published in the&nbsp;Indigenous Law Bulletin.

HealthInfoNet workshops: helping to 'close the gap' in Indigenous health

20 March 2012

To increase access to its web resource and build the capacity of the frontline health workforce - and to assist the health workforce in 'closing the gap' in Indigenous health - the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet will deliver a program of free workshops across Western Australia (WA) over 18 months from April 2012.

News

Contribute