memberships

Aboriginal Justice Centre

Role and Objects of AJC

The Aboriginal Justice Centre Inc provides a vehicle to bring the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community together to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous people in the ACT criminal justice system.  The objects of the Association are:

(1) For Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people to work together to provide services that target and address the causes of disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT resulting from the effects of colonisation, marginalisation, social attitudes and discrimination;

(2) To significantly address the causes and effects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons coming into contact with the criminal justice system by:

(a) providing culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families which reduce criminal offending, incarceration and over representation in the criminal justice system with particular emphasis on providing direct support, preventative programs, referral and other related support services;

(b) providing and/or improving the effectiveness of legal and related support services working to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who become involved in the criminal justice system in the ACT;

(c) liasing and coordinating with governments, key agencies, service providers and other bodies to improve and maximise the availability of culturally appropriate service provision to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the ACT; and

(d) represent the views of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in relation to broad justice issues impacting upon the community.

(3) To recruit and train persons, including volunteers, to advance these objects.

(4) To promote awareness, understanding and acknowledgement of the diversity of Aboriginal culture and the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT and undertake education and community awareness activities to achieve these objects.

(5) To promote awareness of mainstream society, systems and services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT to allow them access their entitlements and rights that are available to the wider community, and

(6) To undertake activities that the Board deem appropriate to improve the emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT through service provision and the development of programs.

Membership Qualifications

The Association has 2 categories of membership – Associate Membership and Full Membership. 

Only Full Members are eligible to vote in elections or on special resolutions of the Association and stand for a Board position of the Association.

To be eligible to become an Associate Member of the AJC, nominees must:

• Understand and agree with the objectives of the Association;
• Be actively interested in issues affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT;
• Commit to observing the rules of the Association;
• Apply for membership using the application form determined by the Board outlining the nominee’s background and interest in the Association;
• Keep their contact details up to date so the Association can contact them regarding General Meetings of the Association and other events;
• Pay the prescribed establishment and annual membership fees;
• Be willing to attend and participate in General Meetings of the Association;
• Have been nominated for membership in accordance with section 5 (1) of the Aboriginal Justice Centre Constitution; and
• Have been approved for membership by the Board of the Association.

To be eligible to become a Full Member of the AJC, a person must:

• Be eligible to be an Associate Member;
• Reside in the ACT;
• Be 18 years of age or over;
• Be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and recognised by the Board as such;
• Provide proof of eligibility as determined by the Board;
• Have been an Associate Member of the Association for at least 4 months.

If you would like to become an Associate Member and/or Full Member of the Aboriginal Justice Centre Inc, please fill in and submit the online Application form here.

Application for Membership

Please note that the personal information on the application for membership form will be available for viewing by members of the Board and authorised staff of the AJC Inc to keep our membership register up to date and assist in achieving the objects of our association.  This information is subject to the Privacy Principles prescribed by Commonwealth and ACT legislation.