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The number of First Nations people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has hit its peak point since official data started in 1980.

Recently released data show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in detention in the year ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the preceding corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain severely represented in the justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the country's population.

These concerning numbers emerge more than three decades after a seminal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

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

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

The other six fatalities took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are detaining them.

The main cause of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "illness." The report noted that hanging was the method in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The increasing number of First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently said.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, respect and responsibility."

Profile Details and Expert Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45 years, and 11 of the deceased were awaiting a sentence.

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

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with bereaved families, said little has changed since the 1991's national inquiry that was established to tackle this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the number of inquests I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively worse," she commented.

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in detention, which encompasses six in juvenile detention centers, as per the findings.