The Northern Territory Department of Correctional Services (NTDCS) Commissioner, Ken Middlebrook and Supreme Court Judge, the Hon Stephen Southwood, officially launched a new interactive tool, Indigenous Language Resources, at an event held at the Mantra Pandanus in Darwin on Thursday, 2 July 2015.

The Indigenous Language Resources have been developed to assist NTDCS Community Corrections staff  bring about a better understanding for offenders, their families and the wider community in relation to court and parole orders and the conditions applied.

A need to improve communications in this area was identified a few years ago and extensive consultation and testing has taken place over the past 18 months that involved, Community Corrections staff, Indigenous Elders, persons on a court or parole order and other government agencies. 

At the launch, Commissioner Ken Middlebrook said: “This is a fantastic achievement that could not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of everyone involved.  I am confident that this tool will assist offenders have a greater understanding of their court or parole order conditions. 

Community Corrections staff who have trialled the tool have said that they noticed a ‘light bulb’ moment with offenders when they listened to their conditions in their own language.   Hopefully, this will continue and assist in reducing the incidences of offenders breaching their court or parole order conditions.”

The Indigenous Language Resource is accessed through an app called Keynote on an iPad and have been developed in conjunction with NTDCS Community Corrections, Creative Territory and Aboriginal Interpreter Service.  It explains the Community Corrections’ role in the community and the types of orders Community Corrections are responsible for supervising.  Two eStories describe 16 common conditions and what it is like to be placed on a court or parole order.  The resources are plain English and nine Indigenous Languages (Warlpiri; Kriol (Eastside); Yoingu Matha (Djambarrpuyngu); Pintupi Luritja; Central Arrente; Western Arranta; Kunwinjku; Warumungu and Murrinh Patha .

In addition, the 16 common conditions are also available in sticker form to place on a physical wallet card for offenders to take away and 12 factsheets with audio capability.

PHOTO CAPTION 1 – From left to right, Supreme Court Judge Stephen Southwood, NTDCS Commissioner Ken Middlebrook, NTDCS Community Corrections Executive Director Tracy Luke
PHOTO CAPTION 2 – An attendee at the launch checking out the new technology

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