Client Services

The primary purpose of the Client Services Section is to assist native title claimants and holders in South Australia to ensure that their native title rights and interests are recognised and protected.

Client Services is made up of a dedicated team of lawyers, researchers, field and administrative staff. Key activities performed by this section include:

• certifying native title claims and agreements
• prosecuting native title claims;;
• resolving disputes between Aboriginal groups;
• negotiating agreements with other parties who wish to use the land;
• undertaking legal and anthropological research; and
• supporting the management and development of native title groups.

Staff of the Client Services Section perform a number of roles and work together through 'Case Management Teams' to contribute to the delivery of services and the recognition and protection of native title rights and interests. An outline of key duties for positions within the Client Services Team is provided below.

Legal Officers

Legal Officers represent and provide advice to native title claim groups. Key duties of Legal Officers include:

• Providing legal and strategic advice to SANTS and clients on native title and related matters;
• Managing the progress/prosecution of native title claims, including management of Federal Court proceedings, mediation, future acts, ILUA and other negotiations;
• Liaising with clients and with relevant bodies, respondent parties and other relevant stakeholders concerning native title and related issues;
• Negotiating agreements relating to future acts and other native title matters;
• Representing clients in Federal Court and other proceedings and forums; and
• Providing advice and assisting clients to establish Corporations including PBCs.

Professional Officers

Professional Officers provide field and library research support for native title claimant groups and others on instruction from SANTS Legal Officers and native title groups.  Activities of the Professional (Research) Officers include:

• Certification and registration for new claims and agreements;
• Future Acts and Work Area Clearances;
• Claims development towards Native title determinations (Federal Court);
• Research to support Consent Determinations, ILUA negotiations and other initiatives including Anthropological, Archaeological, Historical, Archival and Genealogical/family history; and
• Liaison with/supervision of external consultants

Project Officers

Project Officers provide policy and project development and management services to SANTS and native title groups and undertake a range of policy and project activities relating to the negotiation, implementation and sustainability of agreements. These duties include:

• undertaking research and delivering on a diversity of projects relating to the negotiation and implementation of agreements to maximise benefits and achieve sustainable outcomes;
• providing executive and project support to the Aboriginal Congress of South Australia Inc and the Aboriginal Foundation of South Australia Inc.;
• providing policy and project support to Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management and native title groups;
• facilitating and delivering implementation and capacity building services to native title groups;
  participating in the South Australian Native Title Resolution process; and
• contributing to the whole of organisational objectives through providing policy and project support to all sections within SANTS as required.

Field Officers

Field Officers provide administrative and logistical support services to SANTS and our clients including:

• liaising with, and providing written, personal or telephone responses to inquires from native title clients and other stakeholders;
• coordinating travel and other logistic arrangements for meetings and other native title activities;
• ensuring compliance with SANTS’ administrative policies and procedures including the notification of Future Acts;
• providing administrative and para-legal support to legal officers including assisting to manage the progress of individual applications through the native title process.