2016 National Indigenous Legal Conference
This conference will be held in the Manning Clarke Theatres, ANU
26A Union Court, The Australian National University, Acton, Canberra, ACT
Accommodation
For interstate visitors, we offer suggestions for accommodation near ANU.

Indigenous Recognition: Many laws, the many facets of law reform
The conference will attract about 100 delegates from the legal profession and will feature prominent keynote speakers from legal community to discuss current and emerging indigenous legal issues. The theme of this year’s conference is 'Indigenous Recognition: Many laws, the many facets of law reform' and we will look to address:
- Representation of the Indigenous people in the law reform
- Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
- Law reform and Indigenous People
- Twenty five years on: the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
- Initiatives to increase participation rates of Indigenous students in law school, the legal profession and in research
Delegates at the conference will have the opportunity to hear from over 25 speakers including:
- Justice Robert French, Chief Justice of the High Court
- Professor Mick Dodson AM, Director, National Centre for Indigenous Studies
- Michael Mansell, Secretary, Aboriginal Provisional Government
- Dr Jennifer Nielsen, Southern Cross University
- Tony McAvoy SC, Frederick Jordan Chambers
- Brooke Greenwood, High Court of Australia
- Dr Mark McMillan, Associate Professor, Melbourne Law School
- Tim Goodwin, Victorian Bar
- Mary Spiers Williams, ANU College of Law
Registration
- 2 day Conference $600
- 1 day Conference $400
- Student $375
- Gala Dinner (optional) $150
Gala dinner
The dinner will be held on Monday 5 September 2016 at University House, ANU, and will be the show case event across the conference program. The dinner program will feature up and coming Indigenous and other performers.
The event will bring together approximately 100–150 individuals to celebrate and recognise the achievements of Indigenous people within the legal profession. The dinner will play host to the following event:
- Launch and presentation of the inaugural Anthony McAvoy SC Prize in Clinical Legal Practice by Mr Anthony McAvoy SC.
The Anthony McAVOY S.C. Prize
The Prize ($1,500) to be awarded each year to the student who was enrolled in the LAWS4278 the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic and achieved the best overall result. Where 2 or more than 2 students equally merit the award of the prize, the prize in that year shall be equally divided between them. Donate online today:
Additional Materials
Past Sessions
Plenary session
Plenary session
The Hon. Chief Justice Robert French, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
Keynote presentation
Conference welcome
Welcome
Professor Mick Dodson (The Australian National University)
Morning tea
Morning tea
Parallel session - 1A
Concurrent session
Aboriginal dispute resolution, rehabilitation and justice reinvestment
- Rhîan Williams and Greg Barrett: A Cost Benefit Analysis of the Yuendumu Mediation and Justice Committee - the economic case for local dispute management services
- Dr Clarke Jones: Efficacy, accessibility and adequacy of prison rehabilitation programs for Indigenous offenders
Parallel session - 1B
Concurrent session
Creating spaces for Aboriginal law: Education
- Brooke Greenwood: Breaking the recognition barrier: teaching Indigenous law in Australian law schools
- Marcelle Burns: Indigenous Cultural Competency
Lunch**
Lunch
Conferencelunch (sponsored by PARSA)
- Lunch activity for students, led by Auntie Anne and Uncle Larry Brandy (Tjabal Centre, Sponsored by PARSA)
- Indigenous Law Students Meeting - Chaired by John Rawnsley and Fiona Petersen (Tjabal Centre)
National Indigenous Lawyers Meeting
Breakout
Plenary session
Plenary session
Michael Mansell, Secretary, Aboriginal Provisional Government
Accommodating Aboriginal Interests within the Constitution
Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea
Parallel session - 2A
Concurrent session
Indigenous recognition
Dr Deirdre Howard-Wagner: Indigenous recognition in law: Land rights and other Acts
Sarah Ciftci: Indigenous recognition in the child protection context
Amy Preston-Samson: Towards a deliberative practice of constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia