A forum on Indigenous justice at the University of Wollongong has heard of the need to move beyond grim statistics to provide programs for educating young people in culture, language and business.
Aboriginal lawyer, Dr Virginia Marshall spoke at the Forum for Indigenous Research Excellence (FIRE) of the healing work at the Jarlmadangah Burru community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Under a program called Yiriman young people affected by self-harm and substance abuse are taken out onto country to learn how to become self-sufficient in the bush.
Dr Marshall said the community-based diversion program developed by local elders has helped to bring down incarceration rates.
"The Western Australian Government have faith and have also seen the evidence that it works as a diversionary program," Dr Marshall said.
"What we know as lawyers is there are not enough diversionary programs that are tailored to Aboriginal communities."
Dr Marshall said for those living in more urbanised communities the same principles could apply.
"All communities — whether urban, remote or rural communities — need those opportunities to maybe go away to other communities like Jarlmadangah," she said.
"Communities that have programs and projects and also speak language and have a very strong identity of their own.
"It's a situation where the children are learning about themselves on that journey on country.
"It's not sitting at a desk with a chair, its a very vibrant, very vital way to teach."
Dr Marshall also spoke of the dire need to have more practising Indigenous lawyers.
"We have only got one male [Aboriginal] barrister practising in New South Wales and that's not enough," she said.
