Judicial education
Ngara Yura Program
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this website may contain images of deceased people.
About the Ngara Yura Program
The Commission’s Ngara Yura Program was initially established in 1992 in response to the final recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody that judicial officers should receive instruction and education on matters relating to First Nations people's customs, culture, traditions and society.
Judicial officers have an important responsibility to “listen, learn and lead” when dealing with First Nations people who come before them. The Ngara Yura Program aims to increase awareness among judicial officers about contemporary First Nations social and cultural issues, and their effect on First Nations people in the justice system. First Nations people appear before all state courts in NSW as parties and witnesses in both criminal and civil proceedings. In order for justice to be done and be seen to be done, it is essential that judicial officers understand a wide range of issues relating to First Nations people, most particularly their history and customs (including behavioural norms and languages/dialects spoken and understood). The Ngara Yura Program also provides First Nations people with an opportunity to learn about the judicial process.
The Ngara Yura Program is delivered through three main strategies:
About the Ngara Yura logo
The words Ngara Yura mean: To listen and hear the people. The words are from the Eora language group of the inner Sydney region.
How the Ngara Yura logo was created
The orange circle represents “circle of trust” and the need to have faith in the judicial system and those who extend the hand of hope.
The crimson circle represents the cultural differences and experiences that we are confronted within our communities. It highlights the need to work together and embrace those differences with optimism.
The white dots represent the “journey of learning” that we are embarking upon in this life time. It also represents that ‘sacred law ‘is the balance between the physical and spiritual world.
The yellow symbol represents the women and the brown the men. It signifies the importance of gathering within the circle to discuss matters of importance. It reminds us of the purpose and need to hear and listen to one another.
The rings of white circles in the middle of the orange circle represent our meeting place and the sacredness of gathering around the fire where honest, truth and wisdom is spoken and heard.
The yellow symbol of circles and dots represents the sun, giver of life. It signifies the journey of rebirth, healing, justice and hope.
The Commission acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Commission is based, and pays respect to their Elders past and present.