Elders for Change
Guided by Elders, we work with culture at our core and community by our side
From lived experience, to lasting change
Elders for Change is a collective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders who guide and lead Justice Our Way. Their cultural knowledge, lived experience, and leadership form the foundation of the movement. Through their voices and vision, Justice Our Way becomes more than a program — it becomes a path forward shaped by the people who know what community strength really means.
The collective includes respected Traditional Owners, Community Elders, and knowledge holders from across the North-West region. Together, they advocate for justice that recognises the power of culture, prioritises healing, and restores community-led decision-making.
The Elders’ Approach
Support and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody
Elders offer cultural mentoring and support for people inside and beyond prison, providing connection, care, and cultural grounding.
Champion justice reinvestment
We work toward redirecting resources away from prisons and into community-led solutions that address the root causes of incarceration.
Create culturally safe spaces across systems
Whether it’s in courts, corrections, or services, Elders advocate for environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are treated with dignity and cultural respect.
Share knowledge across generations
Through truth-telling, storytelling, and cultural presence, Elders guide the next generation to lead with strength, values, and identity.
Why It Matters
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up one of the fastest-growing prison populations in Australia. Many are incarcerated not for acts of violence, but as a result of systemic disadvantage, poverty, and trauma. They are often also victims — of domestic and family violence, of failed systems, and of intergenerational harm.
Yet the support they receive is often not culturally safe, not trauma-informed, and not grounded in community.
Elders for Change addresses that gap. By walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody, mentoring them through culture and connection, and advocating for real alternatives to prison, Elders provide the kind of support no institution can replicate.
Our Impact So Far
Elders provide one-on-one and group cultural mentoring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in custody in Townsville.
Contributed to policy submissions and public hearings, amplifying the voices of Elders and their communities in state-wide decision-making.
Collaborated with legal and advocacy services like ATSILS to embed culturally safe practices into service delivery.
Partnered with Reach Alliance and other community allies to support justice reinvestment strategies built on community insight and leadership.
Our Logo, Our Story
Our logo for Elders for Change has been designed to reflect our values and purpose. The full story and meaning behind the design will be shared soon, as described by the artist who created it.
(Placeholder text until official explanation is provided.)
