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The tally of First Nations people dying while in custody in Australia has hit its record point since the beginning of official data started in 1980.

Fresh data show that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people remain severely overrepresented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all incarcerated individuals, despite representing less than four per cent of the national people.

These sobering numbers come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year.

A single death was in youth detention, and all except one of the deceased were male.

The other six deaths happened in police custody, defined as when someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The primary cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," followed by "illness." The report found that hanging was the method in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

The state of New South Wales had the highest number of Aboriginal deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The growing number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner has remarked.

In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising pattern was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, dignity and accountability."

Profile Information and Expert Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the individuals were awaiting a sentence.

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several official inquiries with bereaved families, said very little has improved since the 1991's national inquiry that aimed to tackle this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the number of inquests I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly more severe," she commented.

From the time of the royal commission, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, according to the report.