CAWLS is actively involved in law and policy reform with a focus on issues affecting women in the Northern Territory. We do this by contributing to parliamentary and law reform enquiries, participating in collaborative law reform activities and representative bodies, meeting with politicians and government representatives and making statements to the media.

CAWLS currently represents the Northern Territory Legal Assistance Forum on the NT Government Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Framework – Cross Agency Working Group and is actively involved in providing feedback on the development of community-based sentencing options for those who have committed DFV. 

In 2021/22, CAWLS participated in the Domestic and Family Violence Justice Reform Working Group, and provided joint written submissions with the Northern Territory Women’s Legal Services. 

In 2021/22, CAWLS participated in a broad range of consultations providing both written and in person feedback, including the development of:

– National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children (2022 – 2032)
– NT Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence Framework – Action Plan 2 
– Community Legal Centres Australia’s ‘Hands Up for Justice’ National Campaign 
– 10-Year Generational Strategy for Children and Families in the Northern Territory

CAWLS regularly participates in the following networks, advocacy and law reform bodies: 

– Alice Springs Accommodation Action Group
– Access to Justice in the Barkly Implementation Group
– Alice Springs Local Court Specialist Approach to Family Violence Operational Working Group
– Alice Springs Local Court Specialist Approach to Family Violence – Education Subcommittee
– Barkly Domestic Violence Local Reference Group
– Barkly Family Safety Network 
– Barkly Region Accommodation Action Group 
– Barkly NGO Network 
– Central Australian Family Violence and Sexual Assault Network (CAFVSAN) 
– Community Legal Centres Australia – Management Advisory Group (MAG) 
– Community Legal Centres Australia PII network 
– Crimes Victims Advisory Committee (Community Representative) 
– Central Australian Family Law Pathways Network 
– Central Australian Anti-Human Trafficking Working Group 
– Domestic Violence Units Community of Practice 
– Financial Counselling Foundation Community of Practice 
– Health Justice Australia Network 
– Homelessness Response Group
– Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity – Working with Interpreters Education Subcommittee
– NT Association of Community Legal Centres Network 
– NT Law Reform Committee
– NTCOSS Quality and Compliance Network 
– NTCOSS Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Network 
– NTCOSS Social Policy Network 
– NT Women’s Legal Services 
– Tennant Creek Stakeholders Group
– Wangkijiki Advisory Committee
– Women’s Legal Services Australia