What we do
At NAAFLS, as well as helping individuals, we work to change laws and government policies to achieve equality and social justice for Aboriginal people and communities.
Policy and advocacy
We advocate for systemic change through formal written submissions, sector meetings,
communications to the public and face-to-face meetings with the government.
Our work is founded on the following principles:
- Aboriginal people and communities should lead policies, laws and systems that relate to them.
- Aboriginal communities, particularly Aboriginal women, have the solutions for family violence in their community.
- Colonisation, ongoing racism and gender inequality are all major drivers of family violence against Aboriginal people.
- It is in the best interests of Aboriginal children to maintain connection to their family, culture, community, Country and language.
- Over intervention into Aboriginal communities by Government can further entrench the harm of colonisation.
Our Policy & advocacy work
June 2023
Press release: NT landmark coronial inquest into deaths of four women begins
This is a solemn time marking the start of the landmark NT coronial inquiry into the deaths of four of our Aboriginal women, killed by their former partners.
May 2023
Response: NAAFLS response to the DFSV Resource Sentre proposal
NAAFLS calls for a rethink of the NT DFSV Resource Centre proposal as it does not reflect what is needed to support efforts by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people, in the NT.
March 2023
Press release: Don’t take our babies. Call for more support of Aboriginal women as mothers and carers
Intenational Women’s Day and Closing the Gap Day offer an opportunity to reflect on the continue struggle for justice faced by Aboriginal women and carers, particularly in caring for babies and children.
December 2022
Submission: Inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children
In August 2022 the Senate referred an inquiry to examine the scale, current practices, causes, policies and actions for missing and murdered First Nations women and children. This is our submission to the inquiry.
October 2022
Review of legislation and the justice response to domestic and family violence in the NT
Prepared in collaboration with CAAFLU, the submission calls for stronger alignment of the DFV Review and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
April 2022
Press release: 10 tips to bring down domestic, family and sexual violence
Through our work with survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence, we have a good idea of what services are succeeding in helping Aboriginal people. This is our list of 10.
February 2022
Response paper: Response to the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2023
All strategies for Aboriginal communities must come from or be co-designed with the community and the community must retain ownership of such strategies for meaningful change to occur.
November 2021
Submission: Remote Housing Audit
54.5% of houses in remote communities are overcrowded and there is an average of 1.60 occupants per bedroom.
Our clients regularly report 15 plus people living in a three-bedroom home. This is the common experience across all the remote and very remote communities we visit.
November 2021
Report: Change the record - Pathways to Safety
The case for a dedicated First Nations Women’s National Safety Plan – written by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
October 20021
Submission: NAAFLS calls on the Government to increase crisis accommodation and improve police DV training
The NT Coroners Court held an inquest into the alleged murder of a woman by her husband. Both parties were serving police officers. In the years before her death 17 reports of domestic disturbance were made to police. Most went uninvestigated.
September 2021
Discussion paper: Response to NT Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan
Prepared by NAAFLS, this paper outlines a response to the discussion paper produced by the Northern Territory Government in 2021.