Reconciliation Action Plan 2014 – 2016
Contact information
Judge Matthew Myers AM, Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Newcastle Registry
PO Box 9991
NEWCASTLE NSW 2300
E: associate.judgemyers@federalcircuitcourt.gov.au
Judge Josephine Willis, Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Cairns Registry
PO Box 9991
CAIRNS QLD 4870
E: associate.judgewillis@federalcircuitcourt.gov.au
Artwork by
Anthony Langitjgun Walker
Language group : Yiman / Gurreng Gurreng
Copyright
© Commonwealth of Australia
The Federal Circuit Court of Australia provides all material (unless otherwise noted and with the
exception of the Coat of Arms) with Creative Commons (CC) Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
licensing. Material may be distributed, as long as it remains unchanged and the Federal Circuit
Court of Australia is credited as the creator. More information can be found at:
http//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/
If you have any questions about Creative Commons or licensing generally, please email
communication@familylawcourts.gov.au
Our vision for reconciliation
“Reconciliation means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can approach the Court
with confidence that it is attuned to their needs and will deal with every step of the family law
process in a manner which allows them to feel comfortable with the processes of the Court, to feel
supported throughout proceedings and able to feel ownership of the outcome of proceedings.
The Court sees the process of reconciliation as an ongoing one where its procedures are
continually improved, the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are respected and
taken into account as part of an ongoing dialogue and the Court is a place where the First peoples
of Australia feel a sense of inclusiveness and belonging.”
Chief Judge John Pascoe AO CVO
Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Committed to providing access to justice for all Australians
The Federal Circuit Court of Australia (the Federal Circuit Court) is an independent Federal court
established under Chapter III of the Australian Constitution in 2000.
The Federal Circuit Court has jurisdiction across a broad range of federal law, including family law.
The Court’s jurisdiction and workload has grown significantly over the last 14 years and it is now
the largest court in the Federal judicial system, responsible for over 87 per cent of all family law
matters with a higher percentage in some regions. The Court has 15 registries in all, including
registries in each of the State capitals, the ACT and the Northern Territory, along with registries in
Parramatta, Townsville, Dandenong, Cairns, Launceston and Newcastle. The Court also conducts
Circuits in numerous regions throughout the country. Further work is conducted via Circuits in a
further 20 regions throughout the country including Lismore, Rockhampton, Mackay, Burnie,
Orange, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Armidale, Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Port Macquarie,
Wauchope, Mt Gambier, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Hervey Bay, Southport, Maroochydore, Alice
Springs, Geelong, Mildura, Morwell, Shepparton/Cobram, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Bendigo and
Tamworth.
Background
The Court was established by the Federal Magistrates Act 1999 and jurisdiction was conferred by
the Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999. The Court was originally named
the Federal Magistrates Service before being more properly entitled the Federal Magistrates Court.
In 2013 the Federal Government renamed the Court the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, to more
accurately acknowledge the role of the Court, the complexity of the work it now performs and its
accessibility for litigants across Australia. The term ‘Federal’ reflects the broad jurisdiction of the
Court and the term ‘Circuit’ highlights the importance of the Court’s circuit work in regional areas.
The Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012 made consequential
amendments to Commonwealth legislation to reflect the name change of the Court and the title of
the judicial officers. The name change also acknowledges that the Court’s present jurisdiction is
similar to jurisdiction exercised by the State District Courts, rather than at Magistrate level.
The judiciary
The Court is currently headed by Chief Judge John Pascoe AO CVO. There are now more than 60
judges who make up the Federal Circuit Court, including the first Aboriginal man to become a
Federal judicial officer in Australia, Judge Matthew Myers AM, appointed in 2011. Working with the
Court is also an Indigenous Liaison Officer Ms Josephine Akee AO, who is based in Far North
Queensland. Ms Akee is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman.
Facts and figures




In the Court’s first full year of operation (2000–01) 36,435 applications were filed. Twelve
years later that figure has grown significantly with 89,599 applications filed in the Court in
2012–13.
Of the total applications filed, 82,618 consisted of family law work and 6,981 consisted of
general federal law. On a percentage basis, the division is 93 per cent family law and seven
per cent general federal law.
Of the total family law work undertaken, the Federal Circuit Court completed 83 per cent
and the Family Court of Australia completed 17 per cent. Anecdotally, whilst there are
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filings all around Australia, some registries such as
Cairns and Parramatta report filings from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander litigants of
around 50 applications each year.
In family law and general federal law, 83 per cent of matters were completed within six
months of filing and in family law, 94 per cent were completed within 12 months. In general
federal law, 99 per cent were completed within 12 months.
Family Law
The Federal Circuit Court’s family law jurisdiction covers:
 Parenting – an order regarding parenting and care arrangements for child/ren when their
parents or caregivers can not reach agreement.
 Financial – an order relating to the division of property or payment of maintenance
following the breakdown of a marriage or eligible de facto relationship.
 Divorce – all applications for divorce, except orders relating to nullity and validity of
marriage and divorce.
 Child support – certain applications and appeals.
 Child maintenance – an order for child maintenance in special circumstances.
 Parentage declarations and testing – an order declaring that a person is a parent of a
child/ren or to assist in determining the parentage of a child/ren.
 Contraventions – an application alleging a breach of a court order.
 Injunctions – an application for an injunction in relation to property or children including
orders that assist with the personal protection of a party or a child or children.
 Location and recovery – application to obtain information, or publish information about the
whereabouts of a child or to assist with the return of a child to a parent or party.
General Federal Law
The Federal Circuit Court shares jurisdiction with the Federal Court of Australia. The largest
volume of the Court’s general federal law work is in bankruptcy and migration. The Court hears
approximately 95 per cent of all migration applications filed in the federal courts. In addition, the
Court hears a significant number of industrial law and human rights matters.
The Federal Circuit Court’s general federal law jurisdiction covers:
 Administrative law
o Matters under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1997.
o Appeals from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal remitted from the Federal Court of
Australia.
 Admiralty
o In personam actions (claims against a specific person or company) such as freight
claims, damage claims and seafarers’ wages.
o In rem actions remitted by the Federal Court of Australia and state Supreme Courts.
 Consumer law
The Court has civil jurisdiction with respect to claims under the following provisions of the
Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (formerly the Trade Practices Act 1974):
o Section 46 (Misuse of Market Power)
o Section IVB (Industry Codes)
o






Part XI (Application of the Australian Consumer Law as a law of the
Commonwealth), and
o Schedule 2 (Australian Consumer Law).
The Court can provide injunctive relief and award damages up to $750,000.
The Court also has civil jurisdiction with respect to claims under the National Consumer
Credit Protection Act 2009. There is provision in certain proceedings for a litigant to elect
that an application for compensation be dealt with as a small claims proceeding.
Human Rights
Federal unlawful discrimination matters under the Australian Human Rights Commissions
Act 1986 relating to complaints under the:
o Age Discrimination Act 2004
o Disability Discrimination Act 1992
o Racial Discrimination Act 1975, and
o Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
Industrial law
The Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal Court for matters under the:
o Fair Work Act 2009
o Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009
o Workplace Relations Act 1996 (in so far as it continues to apply), and
o The Fair Work Act 2009 confers small claims jurisdiction on the Court for various
matters if the compensation is not more than $20,000.
o The Court also has jurisdiction in relation to certain matters under the Independent
Contractors Act 2006.
This jurisdiction is exercised by the Court’s Fair Work Division.
Intellectual property
Copyright
o Civil claims and matters under Parts V, VAA, IX and
o Section 248J of the Copyright Act 1968, such as claims for injunctions and damages
for breach of copyright.
Trade Mark/ Design
Since 15 April 2013, the Court has certain jurisdiction under the Trade Marks Act 1995 and
the Designs Act 2003. The jurisdiction is comparable to that exercised by the Federal Court
except it cannot hear an appeal from another court.
Migration
Most first instance judicial reviews of visa-related decisions of the Migration Review
Tribunal, Refugee Review Tribunal and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Court
does not have jurisdiction to undertake a merits review of these types of decisions.
Privacy
Enforcing determinations of the Privacy Commissioner and private sector adjudicators
under the Privacy Act 1988.
The Federal Circuit Court of Australia’s RAP Journey
The journey towards reconciliation has been and will continue to be a work in progress for the
Federal Circuit Court. Historically the Federal Circuit Court is the first, and the only federal court to
see the appointment of an Aboriginal person to its judiciary.
The issues of reconciliation and access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
have been in the forefront of Chief Judge John Pascoe’s mind since his meeting with Aboriginal
Elders at Dubbo in 2011. Chief Judge Pascoe was deeply affected when speaking with a local
Wiradjuri woman about her plight and the story she related about her inability to access justice. As
he talked with the Wiradjuri woman, Chief Judge Pascoe gave his promise and his commitment
that, as Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court, he would do everything in his power to promote
the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to more easily access the federal
justice system through this court.
Following that meeting and in furtherance of his promise and commitment, Chief Judge Pascoe
commissioned an Indigenous Access to Justice Committee within the Court. As members of the
Committee engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people it became apparent that
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community hold a significant level of hurt and mistrust
surrounding courts, legal processes and the justice system. Despite these deep levels of hurt and
mistrust, Committee members were invariably greeted warmly and invited to engage with Elders
and other community members. The willingness of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
community to engage with Committee members greatly assisted the Committee in formulating a
set of recommendations that ultimately formed the basis for this RAP.
Rather than seeing the recommendations of the Committee adopted and then perhaps eroded or
forgotten with the passage of time, Chief Judge Pascoe and Judge Myers held discussions with
Reconciliation Australia about the possibility of the Federal Circuit Court developing a
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) – thereby becoming the first Australian court, State or Federal, to
do so.
After further discussion, a sub-committee of the Indigenous Access to Justice Committee was
formed to bring about the implementation of a RAP by the Federal Circuit Court. The members of
the Federal Circuit Court RAP Sub-Committee are:
•
Chief Judge John Pascoe AO CVO
•
Judge Michael Baumann AM
•
Judge Matthew Myers AM
•
Judge Josephine Willis
•
Stewart Fenwick – Director of Administration
The reconciliation journey by the Federal Circuit Court has now become an action plan. It is hoped
that the plan will not only allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people improved access to
justice through the Federal Circuit Court but will encourage other Australian courts to consider
embarking upon a similar reconciliation journey.
Who is Reconciliation Australia and what is reconciliation?
Reconciliation Australia is the national organisation promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader Australian community. Reconciliation
Australia’s vision is one of an Australia that recognises and respects the special place, cultures,
rights and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and where good
relationships between First Australians and other Australians become the foundation for local
strength and success, and the enhancement of our national wellbeing.
There is no single strand to reconciliation. Reconciliation is not an easy or straightforward process.
What is clear however is that reconciliation is every Australian’s business.
Reconciliation is about building better relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples and the wider Australian community for the benefit of all Australians.
If relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians are to
improve people must start to talk about the issue of reconciliation and devise innovative ways to
create positive lasting change.
Reconciliation Australia cannot promote reconciliation alone and challenges all Australians to join
them on a reconciliation journey.
How the Federal Circuit Court can improve access to justice for
Indigenous litigants
The Indigenous Access to Justice Committee was established in May 2012 and is chaired by
Judge Josephine Willis, who is based in Cairns. Given the widespread geographical reach of the
Federal Circuit Court, Chief Judge Pascoe ensured that judges from both city and regional
registries were appointed to the Committee.
Early on the Committee decided that, in order to properly fulfil the terms of reference, Committee
members needed to consult with those legal services working directly with the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander community. In addition, Committee members consulted with other agencies
working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families such as Health Services, family violence
prevention units and community welfare services.
The Committee focused on formulating ways that would assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
litigants to better understand the nature of the Federal Circuit Court’s role, how the Court decides
parenting arrangements for children in separating families and how the Court processes work.
The Committee was painfully aware of the endemic nature of family violence within sectors of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and emphasised that the Family Law Act 1975
specifically requires the Court to consider family violence issues when making decisions about
children and to protect children and parents who are victims of domestic violence.
The Committee’s consultations served three important purposes. First, Committee members
became more aware of the relevant issues and difficulties encountered by Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander litigants when accessing and using the Court and were able to share this knowledge
with the rest of the judiciary.
Second, Committee members informed the community about services the Court can provide when
making parenting orders and specifically, when making orders affecting Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander litigants and children. Committee members explained that the Family Law Act 1975
requires the Court to consider a child’s Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage and that their
children have a right to know and enjoy their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
Importantly, Committee members also sought direction and guidance from the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander community as to what practical measures could be implemented to improve
their access to the Court, both in terms of facilitating their capacity to apply for court orders and
improving their actual experiences within the Court system.
The Committee therefore approached its task in a three step process:
1. to gather information by going out into the community and contacting the relevant
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, community services and groups and
institutions representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander litigants and others who assist
potential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander litigants.
2. to meet regularly and collate the committee member’s information and recommendations,
both interim and final, drawn from committee member’s dialogue with these groups and
information becoming available. The Committee formulated and devised practical measures
to make the pathway to the Court for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander litigants no more
difficult than it needed to be.
3. to formulate a range of recommendations about improving access to the Court which
included both the pathway into court and the Court procedures and practices within the
courtroom. The Committee focused on and reviewed the current listing and case
management processes of the Court in order to ascertain if any of those processes need to
be modified so as to ensure they are responsive to and relevant for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander litigants. Where appropriate, pilot programs were recommended for
introduction to a specific registry. These recommendations were presented to Chief Judge
Pascoe for his consideration.
As part of the first stage, members of the Committee approached and consulted with a wide range
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services and other potential users of our Court all
around Australia. It is the view of the Committee that this form of engagement is essential to the
success of any recommendations. The Federal Circuit Court’s Committee will in future be referred
to as the Indigenous Access to Justice RAP Working Group. Subject to discussions with the Chief
Judge, the Committee will develop a short form title for this working group. The Committee is made
up of the following judges:

Judge Josephine Willis (Chair)

Judge Matthew Myers AM

Judge Robyn Sexton

Judge Dale Kemp

Judge Charlotte Kelly

Judge Janet Terry

Judge Stephen Coates

Judge Terry McGuire

Judge Joseph Harman

Judge Alexandra Harland
Over the next two years the Court’s RAP will be championed by Judge Myers AM, Judge Willis and
Judge Harman together with the Indigenous Access to Justice RAP Working Group and the strong
and active support of Chief Judge Pascoe.
Relationships
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are overrepresented in the criminal justice systems of
the States and Territories of Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders make up a
disproportionate number of those people held in correctional facilities and have the highest rate of
child removal by child protection agencies compared to any other group within Australia. The
Federal Circuit Court acknowledges the damage perpetrated by policies resulting in the forced
removal of children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families. It is important that
Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples have proper access to justice and the justice system,
particularly where that justice impacts on the ability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
to care for their children.
The Federal Circuit Court is committed to ensuring access to justice for the First Peoples of
Australia. To enhance the Court’s ability to achieve this, the Court wishes to adopt real and
practical measures to achieve the principles espoused by Reconciliation Australia. It is vital that the
Federal Circuit Court builds strong, enduring relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander community in order to achieve this outcome.
Focus area:
Providing access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Federal Circuit
Court
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverable
1.1 Indigenous
Access to Justice
RAP Working Group
of the Federal Circuit
Court will actively
monitor the RAP
development and its
implementation.
Judge chairing the
Commencing

Indigenous Access to February 2014
Justice RAP Working
Group in consultation By February 2016
with the Chief Judge.

Indigenous Access to Justice
RAP Working Group oversees
the development, endorsement
and launch of the RAP.
Meet at least four times per
year to monitor and report on
RAP implementation.
1.2 The Federal
Circuit Court will
celebrate National
Reconciliation Week
and provide
opportunities for
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander
peoples to build
relationships with
judges, court and
registry staff.
1.3 Federal Circuit
Court to engage and
build stronger
relationships with
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander legal
services and other
community agencies
servicing Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander communities
and peoples.
Judge chairing the
27 May - 3 June,
Indigenous Access to 2014 & 2015
Justice RAP Working
Group in liaison with
Chief Judge.
Indigenous Access to
Justice RAP Working
Group members
By February 2015
liaising with Chief
Judge Pascoe.

To review and refresh the
ongoing membership of the
Indigenous Access to Justice
RAP Working Group.

Organise at least one internal
event in each registry each
year.

Working Group members in
each registry to coordinate
NRW activities and/or events
such as a morning tea.

Working Group members to
consider options for registry to
engage in creative activities
during NRW with the local
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander community.

Federal Circuit Court to invite
local Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander
Elders/community members
and staff from organisations
such as local Aboriginal
Medical Services and Local
Aboriginal Land Councils.

Elevating the profile of Federal
Circuit Court through:
o
Producing a brochure
promoting the services of
the Court specifically for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples.
By February 2016
o
Attending, supporting
and/or assisting with the
establishment of Aboriginal
Family Law Pathways
Networks.
By February 2016
o
Attending and/or speaking
at events and/or
conferences that focus on
issues that affect Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
peoples such as the
National Indigenous Law
Conference.
By February 2016
o
Engaging with services
such as Aboriginal Medical
Services, Local Aboriginal
Land Councils, Aboriginal
Legal Services.
Respect
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are complex and diverse. They are the oldest living
cultural history in the world going back at least 50,000 years. The Federal Circuit Court
acknowledges that fundamental to the issue of reconciliation is the change towards a nationwide
respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their culture.
Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples is a ‘keystone’ in ensuring the Federal Circuit
Court provides access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and litigants.
Focus area:
The Federal Circuit Court will focus on improving awareness within the Court by developing
appropriate cultural competency training – for staff and the judiciary – to better enhance our delivery
of judicial services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. We will endeavour to establish
productive partnerships with appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agencies and Elders in
this regard. We will also work towards enhancing our appreciation of, and engagement with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultural events and activities, as a further public display
of the Court’s respect for the First Peoples of Australia and our commitment to Reconciliation.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
2.1 Federal Circuit
Court to provide
ongoing opportunities
to judges of the Court
to enhance cultural
awareness training at
a local level or
otherwise available
to increase
understanding and
appreciation of
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander
cultures.
Chief Judge Pascoe By December
in liaison with the
2014
Indigenous Access to
Justice RAP Working
Group members and
individual judges.
2.2 Federal Circuit
Court to engage
judges of the Court,
court and registry
staff in understanding
the protocols around
Acknowledgement of
Country and
Welcome to Country
ceremonies to
ensure there is
shared meaning
behind the
ceremonies.
Indigenous Access to
Justice RAP Working By July 2014
Group members in
consultation with
Chief Judge Pascoe.
By May 2014
Deliverables

By February 2016
By July 2014
Engage with and develop a list
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples working as
consultants who are able to
provide cultural competence
training:
Continue to enhance and
encourage judicial cultural
training through coursework,
formal education and/or
firsthand experiences such as
meeting with Elders within their
community.

Develop, implement and
communicate a protocol
document for the Federal
Circuit Court.

Develop a list of appropriate
persons/Land Councils to
provide a Welcome to Country.

Ensure Acknowledgment of
Country statement is set out
on the home page of the
Federal Circuit Court’s
website.
By February 2015 
Investigate the acquisition and
display of signage
Acknowledging the Traditional
Owners for each registry.
By February 2016 
Encourage judges of the Court
to deliver an
Acknowledgement of Country
when publically speaking at
external events and encourage
judges and chambers staff to
consider placing on email
signatures.
2.4 Federal Circuit
Court to embrace,
acknowledge and
respect Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander cultures.
By February 2016 
An Acknowledgement of
Country be given at the
commencement of an
Indigenous List or an
Indigenous Circuit.
By February 2016 
Identify at least two significant
events for which a Welcome to
Country from a Traditional
Owner will be included such as
the yearly plenary.
Indigenous Access to
By December

Justice RAP Working
2014
Group members in
consultation with
Chief Judge Pascoe
and registry
managers.
By February 2016 
By February 2016 
All registries to subscribe to
Koori Mail, National
Indigenous Times and Torres
News and put for subsequent
display in the registry.
Encourage judges of the Court
to consider placing appropriate
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander artworks, cultural
items and flags within
courtrooms, foyers and
registries.
Ensure that the existing and
new Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander artwork within
chambers and registries are
accompanied by a plaque
acknowledging the artist and
story.
Opportunities
Reconciliation between the Federal Circuit Court and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
presents opportunities including the opportunity to utilise the assistance of Indigenous Liaison
Officers within the Court. It is the view of the committee that such officers will provide invaluable
assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander litigants throughout Australia and to practically
improve access to justice. The Federal Circuit Court is well placed to assist Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples to undertake work experience. Judges of the Court have the experience
necessary to mentor law students. Mentoring is a tangible way to assist future generations of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples undertaking Law studies to become involved in the
legal system and those students in a position of bringing about change within their communities
and wider Australian society.
Focus area:
The Federal Circuit Court will focus on developing opportunities for members of the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander community to enhance their educational and career prospects, through offering
placements and work experience opportunities for law students/graduates and through establishing
traineeships and work experience for other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples wishing to
work within the courts system – or within the Australian Public Service more broadly.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
3.1 Federal Circuit
Court to encourage
each registry to
investigate
opportunities to
increase Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander employment.
Chief Judge Pascoe,
CEO, Indigenous
Access to Justice
RAP Working Group
members and
Stewart Fenwick
Director of
Administration.
By December
2015
By June 2015

Explore funding opportunities
to enable Indigenous Liaison
Officers to be engaged in all
registries across Australia.

Explore funding opportunities
to enable the Court to offer
traineeships dedicated to
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples.

Explore the opportunity to
allow Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander law students to
do work experience in the
courtroom and/or chambers.
3.2 Federal Circuit
Court to encourage
each registry to
investigate
opportunities to
mentor and support
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander law
students.
Indigenous Access to By June 2015
Justice RAP Working
Group in consultation
with Chief Judge.

Explore the opportunity for
judges of the Court to mentor
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander law students through
existing university mentoring
programs.
3.3 Deliver better
access for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander peoples to
justice by delivery of
court services to
targeted Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander
communities.
Indigenous Access to By June 2015
Justice RAP Working
Group members in
consultation with
Chief Judge Pascoe.

Explore holding Circuits in
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities and in
the absence of a court
building, for these hearings to
be held in informal settings.

Consider assigning duty days
and/or creating a list within
individual Judicial Officer’s
docket of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander matters.
3.4 The Federal
Circuit Court will
encourage this
Court’s
Administration to
explore further
opportunities for
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander
employment and
opportunities within
our court.
Judge Myers and
By February 2015
Judge Willis as Chair
of the Indigenous
Access to Justice
RAP Workings Group
liaising with Stewart
Fenwick Director of
Administration and
the Chief Judge.

Hold various meetings with the
Court Administration to
understand process of
developing and implementing
a RAP.
3.5 The Federal
Circuit Court of
Australia will use its
sphere of influence in
reconciliation to
create opportunities
for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
legal services and
other recognised
entities to work
together in
partnership to
increase access to
justice for Indigenous
litigants.
Indigenous Access to
By February 2016
Justice RAP Working
Group members,
Chief Judge Pascoe,
Chief Executive
Officer.

Build a business case to
investigate options of funding
and support for a National
Indigenous Family Law
Conference for the Federal
Circuit Court.
Tracking progress and reporting
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
1. The Federal
Circuit Court will
report achievements,
challenges and
learnings to
Reconciliation
Australia for inclusion
in the RAP Impact
Measurement
Report.
Chair of the
By February 2015

Indigenous Access to & 2016
Justice RAP Working
Group members
liaising with other
judges and the Chief
Judge.
2. The Federal
Circuit Court will
investigate and
research various
ways and means to
track our RAP
progress and report
on what has been
achieved.
Chair of the
By February 2016

Indigenous Access to
Justice RAP Working
Group members
liaising with other
judges and the Chief
Judge.
Complete and submit the RAP
Impact Measurement
Questionnaire to
Reconciliation Australia
annually.
Produce an annual report
which measures our progress
and impact of our RAP actions
and targets, which can feature
case studies of how the
Federal Circuit Court has
increased access to justice for
Indigenous Litigants through
our RAP.