Court plan key to indigenous access

Increased access to courts for indigenous people will prevent a future prime minister having to make another national apology, a leading judge says.

Federal Court Chief Judge John Pascoe, who initiated the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), says the shake-up will make it easier for indigenous grandparents, aunts and uncles to go to court for parenting orders.

"For their relatives should be able to play a part in ensuring Aboriginal children stay with their families so that they can be part of the tradition for the long term," he said.

"Clearly, they are going to grow up better for the experience of living with their family and living in their cultural traditions.

"In short, I want our court and my hard-working judges ... to be part of preventing any future prime minister of this country having to say sorry for what has been done to Aboriginal children."

The RAP is an initiative for the Federal Circuit Court.

It includes courts looking at funding for indigenous liaison officers at all registries, holding hearings in Aboriginal communities and a potential mentor program between judges and indigenous law students.