Natasha O’Connell – Courtesy of the NT News
ABORIGINAL people can achieve in careers outside sport and art, the Territory’s newest lawyer has said. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency’s fifth Aboriginal lawyer, Natasha O’Connell, was admitted to practice on July 29 in Darwin. “It just means you can achieve what you want to achieve if you set your goals and go for it,” the 25-year-old said. “Aboriginal people don’t have to be footballers or singers or dancers. You’re not restricted to sports or arts you can be teachers, or doctors, or lawyers, or journalists.” Natasha was born and raised in Darwin. She studied at Charles Darwin University and at Australian National University. She started working at NAAJA after Year 12 in 2007 and did an NT Government apprenticeship with the Attorney-General’s office before returning to NAAJA. “Most of my work is with the criminal section taking on duty maters in court, people coming into custody, hearings, and bail applications,” she said. She is also an Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory police officer. “Just making sure laws that are passed have a positive effect,” she said. Natasha is descended from the Lurijta clan group whose traditional lands are at Tijikala and the Wombaia clan group, whose traditional lands are at Anthony’s Lagoon. NAAJA chief executive officer Priscilla Collins said: “Natasha’s pathway to becoming a lawyer is an inspiration to all Aboriginal Territorians’. By Conor Byrne of the NT News