Tekan Cochrane on First Nations justiceCEFR A2
24 Jan 2026
Adapted from Kevin Rennie, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Stewart Munro, Unsplash
Tekan Cochrane is an Indigenous lawyer of Kooma, Yuwaalaraay and Torres Strait Islander heritage. Raised on a farm in Queensland, she was the first in her family to go to university. In 2025 she was a finalist for the Australian Human Rights Commission Law Award.
She is Executive Officer of the Tarwirri Indigenous Law Association of Victoria, funded through the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement. She founded TC Law & Consulting and helped create the Victorian Stolen Generations Reparations Package. She finished a Master’s in international relations and, in an interview, called for prevention, community‑led diversion, culturally safe youth services and accountability for police and child protection.
Difficult words
- indigenous — Native peoples and cultures of a country
- heritage — Family or cultural background and traditions
- finalist — Person chosen as one of the top competitors
- reparation — Money or help to repair past wrongsReparations
- diversion — A program that redirects people from court
- accountability — Responsibility for actions and answer for them
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever been the first in your family to go to university? Why or why not?
- Why are community-led programs important for young people? Give one reason.
- How can services for young people be culturally safe in your community? Give one example.
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