Ashurst partners with the Northern Region Aboriginal Alliance to provide pro bono work
27 July 2018
The firm has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NCARA and the NRAA to commence free legal work as part of the NSW Government's Local Decision Making ('LDM') initiative.
LDM is part of OCHRE, the NSW Government's community focussed plan for Aboriginal affairs. It is underpinned by the principle of self-determination and aims to ensure that Aboriginal communities have a genuine voice in determining what services are delivered to their communities and how.
Ashurst has met with members of the NRAA in Tamworth to hear from the community about local issues and discuss the support the firm can provide through pro bono initiatives.
Ashurst pro bono manager Garth Tinsley commented: "Ashurst is very proud to be working with NRAA as they build towards positive and sustained outcomes for Aboriginal people in the Northern Region. Our meeting with members of NRAA was a great opportunity to hear about the needs of their communities, and plan ways our pro bono practice, and the firm more generally, can assist."
Mark Davies, NRAA chairperson added: "Ashurst's legal assistance to NRAA will help to allow Aboriginal people to make decisions and improve capacity to advocate on behalf of the Aboriginal communities. This is fundamental to the NSW Government's LDM plan for Aboriginal affairs to ensure that our communities have a genuine voice in determining what services are delivered and how."
Ashurst has a stand-alone global pro bono practice, which is committed, in Australia, to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and people in rural, regional and remote areas.
