Helen Bishop

Helen is a member of the Koongurrukun people from the Batchelor Litchfield and Finniss River Area. Helen is a Cross Cultural Mediator for the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, working in dispute resolution with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in order to bring about peaceful and acceptable outcomes. Helen also helps top end Territory communities to develop conflict resolution awareness and methodologies, and collaborates with other Indigenous dispute resolution agencies in order to foster practices that are sensitive to cultural needs. Prior to joining the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Helen worked as a Palm Island area manager for the Queensland Corrective Services Commission. In 2002, Helen was appointed as the Indigenous representative on the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council – a body that provides advice to the Federal Attorney General on matters relating to alternative dispute resolution. Helen is interested in the traditional and contemporary dispute resolution systems of Australia’s various indigenous peoples. She aims to have Aboriginal dispute resolution systems formally recognised by the Federal Attorney General. Her driving philosophy is that Aboriginal people should be included in matters that concern them. Accordingly, Aboriginal communities are entitled to access dispute resolution systems that are attuned to their own specific needs and interests.