News and Events
CDU partners with NAAJA to deliver True Justice Program
20 June 2024
The True Justice Deep Listening on Country program is coordinated by Charles Darwin University (CDU) Senior Lecturer in Law Dr Susan Bird and NAAJA’s James Parfitt Fejo and aims to develop student’s understandings of the Indigenous perspectives of the justice system.
Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) Law School is partnering with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) to provide students with a unique glimpse into the legal system from the perspectives of First Nations Peoples.
In a first for CDU, the five-day True Justice Deep Listening on Country elective unit will see 10 second-year law students examine the current Australian legal education, legal practice, law and justice in relation to First Nations Peoples.
Students will travel to sites in Kakadu, Gunbalanya and Garramilla to connect with First Nations Traditional Owners, educators, interpreters, academics and lawyers.
Senior Lecturer in Law Dr Susan Bird and NAAJA’s Mr James Parfitt Fejo adapted the program, initially created by John Rawnsley and said students would have the chance to better understand the connections between law, culture and identity.
“Through this course, students will have the chance to increase their cultural competency and deepen their understanding by hearing stories from First Nations knowledge holders and reflect on how white law impacts First Nations people,” Dr Bird said.
“We are so privileged here in the NT to have opportunities like this – where we can take the time to listen deeply to other’s perspectives and think about how we could make reforms to our legal system to better reflect the needs of First Nations peoples.”
“An elective like this is a great opportunity to help reinvigorate our students, particularly First Nations students, as law study can sometimes be challenging and exhausting. Having the opportunity to slow down and listen deeply will help them remain engaged as well as progress in their careers,” she said.
Throughout the program, students will listen to Indigenous perspectives and critiques about the nature and impacts of the justice system and learn about sustainable paths to recalibrate the Australian legal education and system.
Mr Parfitt, a proud Larrakia man with over 30 years’ experience in the Indigenous legal space, said this program would offer the opportunity to provide a sense of connectedness and allow students to collaborate and ally themselves with justice for Indigenous peoples.
“Going out on Country will provide a chance for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous peoples to come together in a safe environment and learn in a context that is not a classroom,” Mr Parfitt said.
“Students will sit with Elders and other presenters under a tree, or on a rock and learn about and discuss the history and legal disadvantage of First Nations People.”
“Understanding the past will help to provide healing so that we can come together and move forward as a community and transform the education and learning of law,” he said.
CDU’s Dean of Law Professor Alan Berman said partnerships like the one CDU has with NAAJA is vital in providing career opportunities for students.
“I am pleased that we are partnering with NAAJA on this important course, and I look forward to hearing what our students learn from the intensive and their suggestions for ways the legal system can be reformed,” Professor Berman said.
“Several of CDU’s law graduates have gone on to work at NAAJA or other local law firms and government agencies so the knowledge they gain from this will be very important going forward in the careers.”
CDU offers a range of law courses that can be completed online or in person.
May 2024
True Justice comes to Charles Darwin University!
Charles Darwin University has become the latest True Justice Partner. Led by NAAJA Community Legal Educator James Parfitt and supported by Senior Lecturer at CDU Susan Bird, True Justice: Deep Listening will take students to sites in Kakadu, Gunbalanya and Garramilla to enhance deep listening on Country.
This unique program is co-designed to get students reflecting about how white law impacts Black lives, and have the opportunity to speak with Traditional Owners on Country.
Find out more about CDU’s offering here.
More information to follow.
7 October 2021
Launch of Website and EOI process
NAAJA is pleased to announce the launch of the ‘True Justice: Deep Listening’ website and EOI process to provide Aboriginal-led, on-Country and immersive experiences in the Northern Territory aimed at transforming education in law.
The website address is www.truejustice.org.au
“This is an incredible opportunity for students and participants to connect to a range of Aboriginal people speaking from their own roles and authority including Traditional Owners, Interpreters, Lawyers, Academics”, said Priscilla Atkins, CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA).
“By opening up an Expressions of Interest process, we are calling on partner organisations including employers, law firms, legal bodies and institutions to partner with us and commit to future courses”.
The courses will be run in both the Top End and Central Australia. Courses can be co-designed with partners and select courses will be available by open enrolment for select categories of participants.
NAAJA’s Principal Legal Officer David Woodroffe said “True Justice is about hearing and learning from Aboriginal perspectives and experiences and integrating this into the legal system in a way that allows for appropriate recognition, space and respect. Because our legal system is built on a colonial history and legacy, we need to address the many issues in a systemic and holistic way to achieve True Justice. It begins by being prepared to engage and listen to our Elders and people who speak from their own authority and doing so in a way where we can listen deeply and be on-Country”.
Ms Atkins says the “university sector that develops and prepares future lawyers speaks about the value and importance of cultural competency and learning from Aboriginal perspectives. This can’t be done in classrooms alone. It begins by doing so on-Country and through immersive experiences”.
“We are pleased to work with the ANU College of Law to establish the exemplar course and to build from this and partner with law schools and other partners across the country. Courses will also be available for lawyers, judges and select participants involved in law or policy”, says Ms Atkins.
The course with ANU College of Law is designed to:
Engage law students and increase cultural competency.
Develop student’s understandings of the Indigenous perspectives and critiques about the nature and impacts of the justice system.
Enhance students understanding of what it means to listen, collaborate and ally themselves with justice for Indigenous peoples.
Provide a sustainable path for students to help recalibrate Australian legal education and the legal system for true justice for Indigenous peoples.
ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the ANU College of Law, Professor Sally Wheeler OBE, said “We are delighted to have been chosen as exemplar and development partner by NAAJA to support the design and delivery of this exciting, immersive on-Country course for our students and the nation. As the law school of Australia’s national university, it is our privilege and our responsibility to develop the nation’s capacity to listen deeply to First Nations voices and partner with First Nations peoples in pursuit of True Justice”.
Professor Asmi Wood said, “Courses such as this, which genuinely enable students to see and experience the depth, breadth and the intricacies of Aboriginal laws -- laws that coexist in harmony with the land and continent -- means that in the future, we will have leaders who truly know and appreciate how the wealth that Indigenous laws and culture bring, can be used to benefit all those who share our lands.”
Ms Atkins continued, “We are also pleased to partner with other Aboriginal organisations including Winkiku Rrumbangi NT Indigenous Lawyers Aboriginal Corporation and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory. These partnerships will bring Aboriginal-led, lawyer and health based content to the course design”.
The logo for True Justice: Deep Listening was developed by Mparntwe Traditional Owner Karen Liddle.
Ms Liddle says “The large circle represents the place/community where the law students, elders, guest speakers and Traditional Owners come together. The smaller circles on the outside are the communities and cities that law students, guest speakers come from. The footprints and lines going in are the tracks and roads into the main gathering place for the teaching of ‘True Justice’.”
We also thank the pro bono assistance provided by King & Wood Mallesons to support the development of the website and logo.
18 August 2019
Launch of True Justice: Deep Listening
The official launch of the True Justice: Deep Listening exemplar course with the Australian National University College of Law took place on 18th August 2019 at the 14th National Indigenous Legal Conference on Larrakia country, Darwin.