Culturally responsive diversion for Aboriginal women in Alice Springs
January 2026
In the Northern Territory, Aboriginal people are incarcerated at higher rates and continue to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Incarceration rates are higher in the NT than anywhere else in Australia.
Aboriginal women are bearing the brunt of this. They are 25 times more likely to be imprisoned than non Aboriginal women. Much of this contact with the justice system is linked to alcohol and other drug use, economic disadvantage and insecure housing.
The Alice Springs Alternatives to Custody program exists to interrupt this cycle.
The 360Edge team worked alongside Drug and Alcohol Services Australia, Aboriginal leaders and other stakeholders across Alice Springs to collaboratively design a culturally grounded alternative to custody for Aboriginal women.
A cultural advisory group guided the process and we consulted extensively with women in the program, the Alternatives to Custody team, local services, government stakeholders and community corrections.
Funded by the Northern Territory Government, Alternatives to Custody provides a culturally responsive, person centred alternative to prison for Aboriginal women. The program offers alcohol and other drug treatment within a modified therapeutic community environment. Referrals are accepted from women themselves as well as police, courts, legal services and community corrections.
The Alternatives to Custody program brings together healing and Western therapeutic approaches, including individual case management, psychoeducation, group work and counselling, provided through strong partnerships with local services. Children can live onsite with their mother, recognising the importance of family connection in wellbeing and rehabilitation.
The Alternatives to Custody model of care outlines the program’s foundational philosophies, program stages and core therapeutic modalities, as well as aspirational elements that can be achieved as the program continues to grow. It includes a clear commitment to reducing access barriers and embedding consistent therapeutic practice to maintain program fidelity over time.
By supporting Aboriginal women to address the root causes of offending in a safe, culturally strong environment, the Alice Springs Alternatives to Custody program offers a legitimate alternative to incarceration and promotes healing and self determination.
How we can help
Service and workforce improvement can be challenging. The real world is messy, but working on the frontline you need clear practical solutions that work.
We provide practical tailored solutions for any service who works with people who use drugs. We support better responses to alcohol and other drug issues in mental health, primary care, welfare, justice and education sectors, as well as the specialist alcohol and other drug sector. Learn more about how 360Edge can help your service.
Are you interested building your skills in responding to alcohol and other drugs? Check out our diverse range of clinical practice workshops.
