The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (Qld) Ltd (ATSILS) is a community-based legal assistance organization founded in 1972 with the aim of advancing and protecting the legal and human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. ATSILS offers a wide range of civil, family, and criminal law services, along with prevention, intervention, and community legal education programs. Their mission is to collaborate with communities, government, and non-government stakeholders to drive positive change and provide high-quality legal services to Indigenous individuals within or affected by the justice system.
ATSILS operates from over 20 locations across Queensland, delivering essential legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The organization acknowledges and respects the Traditional Custodians of the lands they work on and values the support of diverse and culturally rich communities. Funded by the Queensland Government through a national mechanism, ATSILS is dedicated to serving Indigenous Australians and their families in Queensland, with a team of over 200 staff members specialising in Criminal, Civil, and Family Law.
With a focus on culturally proficient service delivery, ATSILS combines western business practices with a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures. Their performance is evaluated based on their ability to efficiently convert resources into innovative, professional, and culturally sensitive service outputs. Over the years, ATSILS has expanded its services to include areas such as Law Reform, Community Legal Education, and Throughcare Support, demonstrating their commitment to meeting the diverse legal needs of Indigenous communities across the state.