Aboriginal Client & Community Support Officers
Aboriginal Client & Community Support Officers (ACCSOs) are based at local courts across NSW to support Aboriginal people who come in contact with the justice system. ACCSOs work to improve the quality of justice-related services for Aboriginal defendants, victims, families, and court users. Senior ACCSOs, or SACCSOs are senior frontline staff who provide team mentor-ship.
Aboriginal Bail Support Programs
The Aboriginal Services Unit is working in partnership with the Police, Legal Aid NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service (ACT/NSW), and the Court Registry to deliver bail support pilot projects in several locations. ACCSOs offer support and information about bail to help accused people better understand their bail conditions, how to meet them and how to seek variations if needed. ACCSOs also help ensure people attend court by sending reminders, and link accused people to community support services. Bail projects are planned and/or underway in Dubbo, Nowra and Lismore.
Driving and Licence Offences Project
The Driving & Licence Offences Project provides coordinated assessments, referrals, information and support services for Aboriginal people attending court with driving and licence offences.
ACCSOs complete a voluntary assessment identifying gaps in service provision, possible diversionary options as well as other barriers to safe and legal driving.
What’s Your plan?
This program aims to reduce domestic violence perpetrators reoffending through increasing understanding and compliance with ADVOs.
‘What’s Your Plan?’ is an evidence-informed approach which uses small behavioural interventions (such as text reminders and the simplified ADVOs) to promote defendants’ understanding and engagement with the ADVO/court process, and help to reduce reoffending.
The ‘What’s your plan?’ session is a 20 to 40 minute discussion between an ACCSO and a DV defendant in court, focused on agreeing to an action plan to avoid breaches. It covers:
- Orders: Discuss their ADVO to ensure they understand exactly what it means
- Imagine: Identify their motivation and goal for complying with their ADVO
- Challenges: Create an ‘if-then’ plan to overcome challenges they may face
- Action: Follow-up text messages and phone call
Justice Health Partnership
The ASU and Justice Health have a protocol to facilitate mental health assessments for eligible Aboriginal offenders appearing in Broken Hill and Parks local court. Criteria for eligibility are:
- being 18 or over
- having, or being suspected of having a mental illness or cognitive impairment
- being in the Local Court with a summary offence
When a person is identified as suitable for the service, the ACCSO liaises with the Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) based at Dubbo Local Court, who completes a mental health assessment with the nominated person via AVL. A report is provided to the Magistrate, Defence Solicitor and Police Prosecutor, which includes information about the individual’s mental health and any recommendations for care and treatment where appropriate.