Policy & Advocacy

AutismNT is the peak body for Autism in the NT providing information, advice about services, support, education & training programs, parent support groups, library services, promotional materials and representation & advocacy for children, young people and adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Resource Library

The Library holds a collection of books, DVDs and magazines about autism spectrum disorders.

CAAFLU provides culturally appropriate legal and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have experienced or are experiencing domestic and family violence or sexual assault.

• legal advice and representation
• advocacy
• information
• referrals
• support

The Central Land Council (CLC) is a Commonwealth Government Statutory authority established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 operating over the southern half of the Northern Territory – an area of 776,549 square kilometres. With more than 250 employees, and at least half Aboriginal employees, the CLC is the peak Aboriginal body for Central Australia and a Native Title Representative Body under the Native Title Act 1993.

The CLC provides traditional owners with advice, advocacy and practical assistance to support their aspirations, have their rights as landowners recognised and in the sustainable use and management of their land. We strive to represent the interests of the traditional landowners and other Aboriginal people resident in our region on a wide range of land-based and socio-political issues.

The NT Community Visitor Program is an independent service located in the Anti-Discrimination Commission.

Its aim to ensure the rights of those being treated for mental illness or disability are upheld and their views and concerns are heard.

Community visitors are people employed by the CVP who regularly visit Mental Health Inpatient facilities and Disability Secure Care facilities to ensure an appropriate standard of care.

The Community Visitor Program (CVP) provides monitoring, complaint resolution and advocacy services for people detained and receiving care under the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998 and Disability Services Act 1993. The CVP also makes and monitors recommendations on systemic issues such as interpreter use and seclusion reduction.

These services are for people who need information about aged care options, or help to access aged care supports. This means older people, their families, friends and others who want to link with aged care supports.

CREATE Foundation is the national peak consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience (including kinship care, foster care and residential care).

CREATE Connect children and young people to each other, CREATE and their Community to Empower children and young people to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and skills that enable them to have a voice and be heard to Change the care system, in consultation with children and young people, through advocacy to improve policies, practices and services, and increase community awareness

DCLS is a free, confidential service. We assist disadvantaged members of the community to protect their legal rights. We work towards a community where everyone has access to legal advice and support. We seek to challenge unjust laws and procedures, and to ensure that people are aware of their legal rights.

General Legal Service

The General Legal Service provides free legal information, advice and representation on most areas of law, including:

• Discrimination
• Social Security/Centrelink
• Employment
• Credit and debt
• Consumer issues and complaints

What to do if you have a legal issue?

Please contact us on 08 8982 1111 to access free legal information or to make a telephone appointment with one of our community lawyers. Appointments are available most weekdays except public holidays.

FREE After-Hours Legal Advice Sessions

Our free after hours advice sessions are held as below, at different locations around Darwin. They are designed to provide one-off initial advice on a range of legal issues. You can talk confidentially about your legal problem with a lawyer, who will give you advice, suggest possible actions, and in some cases may help you to write a letter or prepare other simple documents.

Darwin – every Tuesday by telephone or in person

Walk ins or appointment welcome  – call 08 8982 1111 to book an appointment

Darwin – every Thursday in person – no appointment required
5.30 – 7.30pm
Darwin Darwin Community Legal Service Office
Level 2, Winlow House, 75 Woods Street (corner of Lindsay Street) Darwin City

Casuarina – 2nd Saturday of each month – no appointment required.  Please call 08 8982 1111 to confirm the date of the next session
10.00 – 11.45am
Casuarina Library – Bradshaw Terrace

Palmerston – 4th Monday of each month  – no appointment required. Please call 08 8982 1111 to confirm the date of the next session
6.00 – 7.30pm
Palmerston Library – Goyder Square

Deaf Connect offers Auslan interpreter services for the deaf community in the NT.

SMS Darwin Office: 0475 769 226

A peak body for people, of all ages, living with all forms of dementia, their families and carers.

Carer Education Program

Carer education is designed to support family carers in their caring role. By learning about dementia and its impacts on the person with dementia, participants will have a better understanding of the effects of the disease.

Community Education

These presentations promote risk reduction and increase public awareness about memory loss with community education sessions delivered direct to various community groups. All groups are welcome and specific topics can be catered for.

Dementia Essentials

Designed for Aged Care Workers employed in residential, community and flexible aged care services, the Dementia Care Essentials III and Dementia Care Essentials IV Advanced provides quality training in, and workforce assessment of Competency in CHCAC319A and CHCAC416A.

SALO

The major goal of the Service Access Liaison Officer (SALO) is to deliver dementia information and risk reduction strategies to people within rehabilitation or correctional facilities within the NT. The program incorporates the Your Brain Matters 5 simple steps to maximise your brain health https://www.yourbrainmatters.org.au

Stepping Out Program

These groups provide a weekly Day Respite Service to families of people with dementia. Group attendance encourages the maintenance of skills and abilities within a social context.

Social Support

The social support program provides group-based and individualised practical help for people with memory problems who live alone, may not have family or social support locally and are not receiving community aged care packages.

Carer Support Groups 

Designed to support carers, these groups offer opportunities to network with other carers, share experiences and develop new skills.

Living with Memory Loss

This comprehensive information and support program is for people who have recently been diagnosed with memory loss or dementia and their family member or friends.

RISK REDUCTION

Brain Gym

Come along and join in, this group invites members of the general public to engage in a variety of stimulating mental exercises, puzzles and games designed to maintain and sharpen cognitive abilities and memory.

Safe Return Program

A unique program, it can give peace of mind if the person you care for tends to wander from home. This program is conducted in partnership with the NT Police.

YOUNGER ONSET DEMENTIA KEY WORKER PROGRAM

Dementia can occur at any age.The YODKW program provides individual support and services to improve the quality of life of those living with younger onset dementia, their families and carers. The program can assist a person to obtain a diagnosis, navigate and understand services, including the NDIS, and prepare organisations to meet the unique needs of this group.

Relate, Motivate, Rehabilitate

This service is a fee paying service whereby Dementia Australia NT can provide sessions of individual social support for people with dementia who are currently residing in hospital or a residential care facility.

Marie Gray Library, Darwin and Hazel Hawke Library, Alice Springs

Dementia Australia NT maintains two specialist libraries including books, research papers, journals, magazines and DVDs. Become a member of Dementia  Australia to access library resources.

Advocacy and Your Rights

Be aware of your rights, be assured of our confidentiality and be supported at all times throughout your involvement with Dementia Australia NT.

Desert Knowl­edge Aus­tralia acts as Man­ag­er of the Desert Knowl­edge Precinct and its pri­ma­ry oper­a­tions, and ful­fils the respon­si­bil­i­ty of achiev­ing the aspi­ra­tions of the DKA Board via its Strate­gic Plans, includ­ing fos­ter­ing flag­ship projects, such as Codes 4 Life and the Intyal­heme Cen­tre for Future Ener­gy.

DKA proud­ly acknowl­edges the Arrernte peo­ple as the cus­to­di­ans and First Knowl­edge hold­ers of the coun­try on which the Desert Knowl­edge Precinct is located.

DKA works with the peo­ple, com­mu­ni­ties and organ­i­sa­tions of cen­tral Aus­tralia who share our vision for strong resilient remote com­mu­ni­ties, to form part­ner­ships, oppor­tu­ni­ties, and deliv­ery of projects that bring tan­gi­ble val­ue to the desert region.

DKA facil­i­tates inno­v­a­tive projects that:

• Pro­mote social well­be­ing and pos­i­tive change for our region
• Aim to achieve cli­mate-adap­tive, resilient remote communities
• Explore and deliv­er tech­nol­o­gy rel­e­vant to sus­tain­able desert living
• Cre­ate research oppor­tu­ni­ties that sup­port eco­nom­ic growth