The 2019 National Indigenous Legal Conference was held on 13 & 14 August in Darwin, hosted by Ngalaya’s sister organisation Winkiku Rrumbangi NT Indigenous Lawyers. The focus of this year’s conference was True Justice: Integrating Indigenous Perspectives. It was held concurrently with the inaugural Indigenous Health Justice Conference.
Ngalaya supported two First Nations law students to attend NILC 2019:
Bridgette Hey, a Wiradjuri law student from the University of Newcastle was sponsored by the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation.
Faith Sheridan, a Gamilaraay law student from the University of New South Wales was sponsored to attend by Ngalaya.
Both students were chosen through a blind application process that assessed their application against key criteria. You can read their reflections on the conference below.
Conference Proceedings and Ngalaya Involvement
Ngalaya members Teela Reid (Wiradjuri & Wailwan) and Merinda Dutton (Gumbaynggirr & Barkindji) presented on NSW’s Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme.
Ngalaya member and Australia’s first Indigenous Silk, Tony McAvoy SC, presented as part of a panel on the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
Ngalaya’s Chairperson, Jason O’Neil, also attended NILC 2019 and documented much of the proceedings on Ngalaya’s twitter account.
National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year: Merinda Dutton
Merinda Dutton was awarded the 2019 National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year Award in recognition of her legal work in Legal Aid NSW’s Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities.
Reflections on NILC 2019 from Ngalaya Students
NILC Reflection: Faith Sheridan (Gamilaraay, UNSW Law Student)
NILC Reflection: Bridgette Hey (Wiradjuri, Newcastle Uni Law Student)
Supported by Colin Biggers & Paisley
Ngalaya received supported from Colin Biggers & Paisley to sponsor Bridgette Hey to attend NILC 2019.
