On 11 June 2025, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Divisions 1 and 2) ('the Courts') will launch their 2025-2027 'Innovate' Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which reflects the Courts' continuing commitment to providing access to justice for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The launch, to be held in Brisbane, will feature an address from Aunty Betty McGrady, a Gunggari elder from Southwest Queensland, as well as Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland AO.
The innovations build on years of commitment to reconciliation since the launch of the Federal Circuit Court's first RAP in 2014. The commitments outlined in the 2025-2027 RAP include:
- Increased community engagement through participation in events like National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC week;
- Inquiring as to the feasibility of additional remote circuit locations;
- Continuing to build programs like the Courts' Specialist Indigenous Lists;
- Holistic support of IFLOs to help raise awareness of and promote access to Specialist Indigenous Lists and the IFLO role;
- Focus on anti-discrimination and retention of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff through hiring strategies and HR practices; and
- Increase cultural knowledge and awareness among the Courts' staff and Judges and cultivate practices that promote respect, including acknowledging country at significant court events and sittings.
Judge Josephine Willis AM said:
"This is an such exciting time for our Courts. In 2014, I worked with the Indigenous Access to Justice Committee and Reconciliation Australia to become the first Court in Australia to enter into a Reconciliation Action Plan.
Since that time, the Courts have embraced all aspects of our RAP commitments. In 2025 our Access to Justice committee has worked with our Indigenous Family Liaison Officers and Reconciliation Australia to again commit to a variety of activities and events and processes designed to actively support and enhance relationships and respect, and build relationships between the Court and members of the indigenous communities around Australia. Through observing and celebrating significant indigenous events throughout the year, mentoring indigenous law students or supporting indigenous grandmothers to obtain parenting Orders for their grandchildren who they are raising, the Court is striving to improve access to justice for indigenous litigants."
Kirsty Maylin, Director of Indigenous Operations, Policy and Support, said:
"As a proud First Nations woman and Director within the Courts, I embrace the launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan as a meaningful step towards transforming how we work with, and for First Nations peoples. This RAP is more than a document - it's a commitment to increasing cultural safety, equity, and justice within the family law system that must live through our daily actions, not just our intentions.
Communities continue to face significant barriers when engaging with the legal systems. Through the RAP we have an opportunity and a responsibility to strengthen trust, embed accountability and walk alongside First Nations families with humility and respect. The IFLO program is a practical example of this commitment in action, and I look forward to seeing our shared values carried across all levels of the Courts."
Deputy Chief Justice McClelland said:
"For our Courts to contribute to the nation's move towards reconciliation, we must ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to have greater access to, and engagement with, a family law system that listens to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and innovates to meet those needs.
Our Courts have paved the way for other courts around Australia in this area, with the Federal Circuit Court having been the first court in Australia to enter into a RAP, and this Innovate RAP builds on the actions and deliverables of that and other previous RAPs. The Judges of our Courts demonstrated their commitment to deepening their understanding and awareness of Aboriginal cultures by holding our annual Judges' plenary in Alice Springs in June 2023. This also provided an opportunity for the Judges to engage with the communities of Ntaria and Ltyentye Apurte and the Arrernte People of Alice Springs."
The Courts also convened a First Nations Forum in Brisbane in August 2024, where we gathered with more than 50 stakeholders representing First Nations legal services, family violence services, other social support services, Government representatives and First Nations leaders to listen to First Nations experiences of interacting with the Courts, and brainstorm together what we could do in the future.
The four RAP types (Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate) allow RAP partners to continuously strengthen reconciliation commitments and constantly strive to apply learnings in new ways.
An Innovate RAP is a crucial and rewarding period in an organisation's reconciliation journey. It is a time to build the strong foundations and relationships that ensure sustainable, thoughtful, and impactful RAP outcomes now and into the future.
Key statistics:
- The Courts employ 25 staff and 1 Judge that identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples;
- The Courts receive over 95,000 family law applications each year;
- The Courts receive over 13,000 'final order' applications each year (in the family law jurisdiction):
- In financial year 2019-2020, 5.2% of final order applications involved a litigant identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander;
- In 2023-2024, that proportion grew to 7%; and
- In some registries, such as Cairns, Townsville, Newcastle and Darwin, the proportion is between 10% and 20%.
Indigenous Family Liaison Officers
Indigenous Family Liaison Officers (IFLOs) are located across Australia, and are available both before a court appearance and in court, to provide impartial support families to understand and engage with the court process. They can also help people who are involved in a family law issue by connecting them to legal and other support services.
Access the full text of the 2025 - 2027 RAP
