Nunga Court

The Nunga Court, also known as Aboriginal Sentencing Court,^[1] is a type of specialist community court for sentencing Aboriginal people in South Australia. Such courts exist at several locations throughout the state, as a sentencing option for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders who plead guilty of an offence.

The South Australian model was the first court of its type to commence operation in Australia in 1999, and other states have since used the model to fashion their own systems of Aboriginal courts. The Nunga Court operates within a magistrates court, but provides the option of a sentencing conference, using less formal procedures and with input from the community, to create a more culturally appropriate method of deciding on a sentence. Referrals to other services may be included as part of rehabilitation for the offender.