FUTURE DIRECTIONS: COURTS AND INDIGENOUS CULTURAL AWARENESS NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2002 Mr Kim Collard, Sharon Bedford and Dennis Eggington

Introduction n Indigenous perspective of previous and existing Cross-Cultural Awareness programs and initiatives from Western Australia n Presenters- Kim Collard: Curtin University of Tehnology n Sharon Bedford: AIJA Western Australia n Dennis Eggington: CEO Aboriginal Legal Service (W.A.)

Topics of Discussion n Topic 1: Previous Aboriginal Cross-Cultural Awareness workshops and effectiveness (K.C.) n Topic 2: What has happened since? (S.B. & D.E.) n Topic 3: Where to from here? (All)

Topic One n Overview and evaluation of two Aboriginal Cross Cultural Awareness Workshops for: n District and Supreme Court Judges (June 1998);and n Justice’s of the Peace (April 1999) n How effective were these workshops? n Positive evaluation

Topic Two n What has happened since? n Delays in bureaucracy. Why? n Current situation.

Topic Three n Where to from here? n A more succinct and coordinated approach by all agencies involved in the judiciary n CCA / Aboriginal Studies to be part of JP’s Training Program and compulsory part of Legal Practitioners undergraduate university degree. n Identifying and eradicating institutional racism within the judiciary n Breaking down the barriers from within n Workshop A - Future directions for Cross Cultural Awareness programs n Workshop B - Addressing Judicial Reservations about Cross Cultural Awareness programs

Real Life n Abolishment of Aboriginal Justice Council in W.A. n Institutional racism exists within the judiciary n Recommendation 96 reads as follows; but n How many of the 339 recommendations of the RCIADIC have been implemented? n Identifying periods of success and understanding why with a focus on continued support?

What This Means n Our people continue to die in custody at an alarming rate

Next Steps n After lunch we all need to be part of a combined solution n Contribute to the remainder of the conference in an open and honest debate about the real issues at stake: People’s lives and people’s futures.