Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee members appointed
The WA Government has appointed 12 Aboriginal men and women from across Western Australia to the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (AJAC) for its 2026 term.
AJAC provides independent cultural advice and guidance to the Department of Justice on matters affecting Aboriginal communities.
The committee helps ensure the justice system is fair, culturally informed, and responsive to the lived experience of Aboriginal people.
Newly appointed members Dylan McCarthy, Raylene Button, Jamie Strickland, and Makalla Skonis are joined by reappointed members including Jean O’Reeri, Henry Lockyer, Daisy Ward, Elizabeth Ellis, Justin Kickett, Amanda King, George Hayden, and Joslyn Eades-Tass.
Committee plays a key role
“I wish the newly appointed Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee members every success as they take on this important role ensuring justice policy is informed by the lived realities of Aboriginal people across the State,” Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch said.
“It is pleasing to see strong regional representation on AJAC so that decisions about policy development are shaped by Aboriginal people who understand what’s happening in their own communities and can advocate for place-based approaches to shape a more responsive and culturally informed justice system.”
Established in 2021, AJAC comprises Aboriginal representatives connected to metropolitan, regional, and remote areas across Western Australia.
The committee plays a key role in strengthening relationships between the justice system and Aboriginal communities.
AJAC also supports the Department of Justice in progressing justice targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
It reports directly to the Director General Kylie Maj, who is the Committee’s Chair, and briefs the Attorney General and Corrective Services Minister.
Strengthening trust in the justice system
Attorney General Dr Tony Buti thanked them for their commitment to improving justice outcomes.
“Cultural knowledge and lived experience from Aboriginal communities are essential to building a fair, safe, and just system for everyone,” he said.
“By embedding Aboriginal voices into decision-making, we can strengthen trust in the justice system and deliver lasting, meaningful change.”
The Department of Justice’s acting executive director for Aboriginal Justice Transformation Trent Davies has been appointed as secretariat of the AJAC.
The appointments have commenced with the first quarterly meeting scheduled for later this month.
For more information, visit: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/aboriginal-justice-advisory-committee-0
Member profiles
Kylie Maj (Chair) Director General of the Department of Justice.
Trent Davies (Secretariat) is a Noongar man, with family ties throughout the Great Southern region and Acting Executive Director of the Aboriginal Justice Transformation Directorate, Department of Justice.
Jean O’Reeri (East Kimberley) is a Ngarinyin woman from Karunjie Station on the Gibb River Road. Ms O’Reeri has lived and worked in Wyndham in the East Kimberley region since the 1960s, advocating for change for the community and young people. Ms O’Reeri has worked as an Aboriginal Teaching Assistant in Wyndham for over forty years and has held various directorships with Aboriginal Corporations and assisting with medical services for men and women in the East Kimberley.
Dylan McCarthy (West Kimberley) is a Gooniyandi, Gija and Bardi man from Ardyaloon Community and Fitzroy Crossing. Mr McCarthy was born in Derby and has spent most of his life in the Kimberley region. Mr McCarthy has worked in the mining industry, WA Country Health and the Department of Communities and is currently employed at Legal Aid WA in a newly created First Nations Community Engagement Coordinator position. Prior to this role Mr McCarthy was a Community Liaison and Education Officer providing legal education and assisting community members with accessing legal services.
Daisy Ward (Ngaanyatjarra Lands, shared role with Lizzie Ellis) is a senior Elder and valued member of the Warakurna Community, and the broader Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Ms Ward was the recipient of the 2020 WA Department of Education Director General’s Women of Achievement award for her work in cross-cultural education, her ability to educate and communicate about the two ‘worlds’ the Yarnangu people operate in and for her advocacy of remote Aboriginal students.
Lizzie Ellis (Ngaanyatjarra Lands, shared role with Daisy Ward) is a senior Elder and valued member of the Warakurna Community, and the broader Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Ms Ellis is a translator, interpreter and teacher of the Western Desert dialects and internationally recognised in the study of traditional Aboriginal languages and received her Honorary Doctorate from the Australian National University.
Henry Lockyer (West Pilbara) is a proud Banyjima man based in Port Hedland with extensive experience in Community consultation, facilitation and governance across the Pilbara. Mr Lockyer connections across the Pilbara and Kimberley inform his strong understanding of Cultural governance, leadership and regional relationships. Mr Lockyer works to strengthen culturally-informed engagement between Aboriginal Communities, government and service providers, supporting effective policy and service delivery in remote contexts. Mr Lockyer supports Community-led solutions that strengthen Aboriginal leadership, self-determination and improved outcomes across Northern Western Australia.
Justin Kickett (North Metropolitan Perth) is a Noongar man with ties to Ballardong and Menang country and has lived on Whadjuk country almost his whole life. He has Noongar man with over 20 years’ experience as a Western Australian Police Officer serving for ten years as a Detective. Mr Kickett is currently the Director of I24S and Operations Manager of Six Seasons Resources. Mr Kickett is Chairperson of the Gwambygine, and Mibrong and I24S Aboriginal Corporations and serves on the Supervised Release Review Board.
Amanda King (South Metropolitan Perth) is a Noongar and Barkandji-Ngiyampaa woman with connections to Whadjuk, Balardong, Yued and Wilman Noongar groups. Amanda has 14 years experience in the public service, has represented youth at state and national level and has experience with boards and committees. Amanda looks forward to connecting with mob from across the state, sharing her knowledge and learning from other AJAC members.
George Hayden (South West) is a Njaki Njaki Noongar man and former manager of the Noongar Language Centre. Mr Hayden was previously an Associate Lecturer at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University of Technology. Mr Hayden is currently a member of the Western Australian Prisoners Review Board.
Joslyn Eades-Tass (Great Southern) is a proud Noongar woman with strong ties across Noongar Nation, bringing over 35 years’ experience across justice, governance and community services. Ms Eades-Tass is the Founding Director of Dream a Dream Foundation, a Director of NAIDOC Perth and Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporations, and serves on Parole, Review Board and Care Review Panels. Ms Eades-Tass’s focus is systemic reform grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.
Makalla Skonis (Goldfields) is a proud Wangkatha and Noongar young lady with connections to Noongar people through her grandmother. Ms Skonis is an emerging young leader with deep connections to the Wangkatha, Ngaanyatjarra, Waljeon and Martu Wongi community in the Goldfields regions. Ms Skonis is fluent in her Wangkatha dialects and working in public sector it has helped to build professional relationships and assisted with any language barriers. Ms Skonis has worked at Adult Community Corrections in Kalgoorlie, employment at Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and at Central Regional TAFE.
Raylene Button (East Pilbara) is a Kariyarra Elder and holds cultural knowledge from Kariyarra country and across the Pilbara. Ms Button has lived experience supporting family members impacted by the justice system and a deep understanding of the language, cultural protocols and systemic challenges faced by Aboriginal people.
Jamie Strickland (Mid-West) is a Badimia man with strong links to Wajarri and Yued. Mr Strickland is the Deputy CEO of Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation. Mr Strickland worked on the Aboriginal Justice Agreement to develop and implement Local Justice Plans to inform Regional and State Justice Plans. Mr Strickland also has over 30 years’ experience working in Aboriginal Affairs, community engagement and development.
