Bagaraybang bagaraybang mayinygalang (BBM): Empowering and alleviating
Bagaraybang bagaraybang mayinygalang (BBM): Empowering and alleviating, is a Health Justice Partnership (HJP) between Hume Riverina Community Legal Service (HRCLS), and Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service (AWAHS).
BBM assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our region overcome barriers to justice with a focus on improving their physical and mental health and well-being in a culturally safe manner.
This three-year program began in 2023 and was co-designed with AWAHS in response to demand uncovered in the Invisible Hurdles HJP project. It was noted that demand for assistance existed beyond young people, particularly for people impacted by poor mental health. BBM was developed to service these needs.
The program has a dedicated HRCLS lawyer and community engagement worker embedded in AWAHS building relationships and trust in the community, and providing legal assistance.
An evaluation of the program was undertaken by Dr Liz Curran, Associate Professor Clinical Legal Education & School Research Lead, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University and Dr Nisan Alıcı, Research Assistant, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University, in April 2023.
Executive Summary of 2023 First Research and Impact Evaluation Report
2023 First Research and Impact Evaluation Report
Report to Aboriginal Community of Albury Wodonga
In 2024 the second research and impact evaluation report was completed by Dr Liz Curran, Associate Professor Clinical Legal Education and School Research Lead, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University.
Alongside the second research and impact evaluation report, a report to the local community was created and distributed, acknowledging, thanking and informing the local community of work undertaken in the BBM Program.
Report to the Aboriginal community of Albury Wodonga 2024
In January 2026 the third and final study and evaluation report by Dr Liz Curren, Associate Professor Clinical Legal Education & School Research Lead, (Centre for Rights & Justice & Centre for Legal Education), Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University, was published.
Dr Curren reporting that BBM was demonstrating impact across the benchmarks of reach, engagement, capability, collaboration, empowerment and social determinants of health outcomes:
“BBM is improving the experiences of Aboriginal clients and address inequality through earlier intervention by legal support services that avoids problems arising in the first place or by intervening in a timely and responsive way to ensure problems don’t escalate.”
