News
Media Release: NTCOSS welcomes legislative changes to raise the age of criminal responsibility
We congratulate the Northern Territory Government for keeping its promise to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 and abolishing some mandatory sentencing laws.We need a smarter approach to justice – one that works and one that breaks the cycle of...
NTCOSS response to the Review of the legislation and the Justice Response to Domestic Violence in the Northern Territory – supplementary information to the legislative reform component
The Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS) is the peak body for the Northern Territory (NT) Community and Social Services Sector and is a voice for people affected by social and economic disadvantage and inequality. NTCOSS membership is made up of...
NTCOSS on the crisis in NT of women being killed
“It is all well and good to pay lip service to ending gender-based violence … but we need to put our money where our mouth is” – NTCOSS’ Tessa Snowdon on ABC Radio Darwin following Four Corners’ broadcast on a national crisis "hidden in plain sight: the killings and...
NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale speaks on ABC Radio Darwin on Federal Budget Day
NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale speaks on ABC Radio Darwin about the Albanese Labor Government’s first Federal Budget, what’s needed to ease the stress of cost of living pressures on Territorians and the national plan to end violence against women and children....
Katherine Women’s Legal Service, NTCOSS weigh in on national DV plan
An ambitious national plan to end gender based violence has been welcomed by Northern Territory advocates. But a remote legal service has said it is a “missed opportunity”, and more clear guidelines of how implementation will be funded is needed. Katherine Women’s...
Dedicated plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family safety ‘essential’ for Northern Territory
By Emma Ruben National Indigenous Times 20/10/22 The proposed plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family safety could be essential for domestic and family violence survivors in the Northern Territory, a peak NT body has said. Alongside the National Plan to...
Experts call on the government to close Don Dale 13/9/22
In the wake of possible Youth Justice Act breaches, experts cannot ‘reconcile’ the continued use of Don Dale and have called for the building to be bulldozed immediately. NT Council of Social Services chief executive Deborah Di Natale said she visited Don Dale only...
NTCOSS welcomes new laws to Raise the Age 12/10/22
NTCOSS, along with our partners: @AMSANTaus, @NAAJA_NT, @APONT_AGMP and NT Legal Aid welcomes legislative changes to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12. We congratulate the NT Government for keeping its promise and will continue the...
Media Release: Urgent action needed to stop shameful neglect of our children 14/9/22
For immediate release Wednesday 14th September 2022 Media Release: Urgent action needed to stop shameful neglect of our childrenWill it take a tragedy to force the Northern Territory Government to take tangible action and remove children from the notorious Don Dale...
Better system for children can exist Sunday Territorian 18/9/22
By Deborah Di Natale – CEO - Northern Territory Council of Social Service - Sunday Territorian newspaper 18/9/22 Last week I visited Darwin’s Don Dale Youth Detention Centre and I was appalled by what I saw. Here we are, five years since the NT Royal Commission handed...