First Nations

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) aims to strengthen our relationship with First Nations peoples, both in our workforce and for the Queensland community.

Our department performs a fundamental role in the lives of all Queenslanders, from registering births through to end of life, with various other touch points along the way.

As a department, we will work towards the elimination of racism, redesign our system, change our services, and build a workforce that is culturally insightful.

We acknowledge that genuine systemic change does not occur overnight—it needs meaningful, achievable and planned changes over a generation.

Reframing the relationship plan 2024–25

The Reframing the relationship plan 2024–25 (the plan) is our commitment to strengthening our relationship with First Nations peoples. The plan is a cultural architecture framework that weaves self-determining principles into our practice across DJAG’s business areas and portfolio services, seamlessly integrating and building the cultural maturity.

We have published this plan to allow our business areas, functions and portfolios services to align and mobilise behind a common purpose, which is changing how DJAG conducts its business with First Nations peoples of Queensland.

To achieve the objectives of the plan, DJAG will adopt a ‘First Nations first’ approach, which means that DJAG must not only reshape the justice system with First Nations peoples, but also acknowledge the unique rights and cultural authority of First Nations peoples as the traditional and cultural custodians of our lands, waters and seas. DJAG’s services and objectives must be place-based and person-centred.

The plan is based on 8 objectives set out in the Public Sector Act 2022 and contributes to the delivery of:

• National Agreement on Closing the Gap: Queensland’s implementation plan
• Queensland Government reconciliation action plan 2023–25
• Queensland’s Path to Treaty
• Queensland Indigenous procurement policy
• Even better public sector for Queensland action plan 2024–25
• DJAG’s strategic plan 2022–26.

The plan has been developed in consultation with First Nations employees, departmental divisions and portfolio services. Its implementation will be monitored—the plan will be reviewed and the progress will be reported on and published annually.

Achievement of the objectives in this plan is a responsibility we all share as public servants.

Acknowledgement of artwork—Mother Lore

‘Mother Lore’ is an embodiment of strength, resilience and guardianship.

This beautiful design tells DJAG’s truth and acknowledges the role DJAG has in First Nations peoples’ lives. Mother Lore is a beacon of hope as DJAG looks to the future and bears her lessons in mind as we work towards a better future.

It was developed from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks that resulted from consultation with the First Nations communities and DJAG’s First Nations staff members. The goal was to create a deeper bond with the First Nations communities, making sure DJAG’s services resonate with and support individuals from birth through to later life, reflecting the commitment to creating lifelong care, assistance and reframing its relationship.

The resulting artworks—created by Jessie Mordey and Kylie Hill—now symbolise DJAG’s commitment to a safe, fair and inclusive community for everyone.

Watch the video to find out more about the design process.

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