Aboriginal advisers to guide Department on justice matters

Media release
The Department of Justice has appointed the inaugural members of a committee of Aboriginal people to provide cultural advice and guidance on justice issues.
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Aboriginal advisers

Nine men and women who reflect WA’s diverse Aboriginal community have been chosen from across the State to join the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (AJAC).

The Committee will help identify and suggest improvements to initiatives, policies and strategies to help the Department of Justice achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal people.

The appointees come from metropolitan, regional and remote areas, bringing knowledge and lived experience of Aboriginal culture in their communities and of justice matters.

The terms of appointment are effective until 30 September 2023.

Department of Justice Director General, Dr Adam Tomison, will chair the Committee with the support of Gina Hill, Director of Aboriginal Justice Transformation.

Dr Tomison said establishing the AJAC was a key deliverable of the Department’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2018-2021.

“It will also greatly assist us in achieving justice targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap,” he said.

Ms Hill said: “The AJAC members are established and emerging leaders in their communities and bring a breadth of knowledge about the justice system.

“The Committee will help keep the Department connected, informed and highly responsive to the Aboriginal community on justice matters,” she said.

AJAC Member Profiles

Merle Carter is a senior Mirriwong Gajerrong Elder, board member of the Western Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council and the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre. Ms Carter is a highly respected leader in the Kimberley.

Jacob Collard is a Whadjuk Noongar man and a recognised young emerging leader in his community. He works as an Indigenous Cultural Advisor for Serco at Acacia Prison. Mr Collard is a former Western Australian Police Officer and Perth Glory player.

Mitchell Drage is a Pinikura/Thudgari/Nhanda man with extensive experience as an educator across Pilbara and Western Australia, primarily in regional and remote areas.

Joslyn Eades-Tass is a Wagyl Kaip woman and Managing Director of the Dream a Dream Foundation. She is a committee member of the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (DPLH) and NAIDOC Perth.

Daniel English is a Malgana man and an employee of the Department of Justice, working in Diversity and Inclusion within Human Resources. He has previous experience as an Aboriginal Mental Health Worker, Operations Manager for the Aboriginal Visitors Service and as a Prison Support Officer.

George Hayden is a Ballardong Noongar man, manager of the Noongar Language Centre and member of the Western Australian Parole Review Board. He was previously an Associate Lecturer at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University of Technology.

Justin Kickett is a Whadjuk Noongar man with over 20 years’ experience as a Western Australian Police Officer. He is the Director and Operations Manager of Six Seasons Resources and Chairperson of the Gwambygine and Mibrong Aboriginal Corporations.

Kylie Le Lievre is a Nykina woman and employed by the Department of Justice as a Section 95 Officer at Broome Regional Prison. She has previously worked for the Department of Education in Boulder and Broome, and for the Western Australian Country Health Service.

Ella Smith is a Gubrun/Noongar woman and is an employee of the Department of Justice in Youth Justice Services. She has worked extensively as a Youth Justice Officer in Kalgoorlie and sits on the board of Kalgoorlie Boulder Community High School.

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