Failure in Government policy sees First Nations peoples lose millions in funeral fund collapse
Joint Media ReleaseThursday 17 March 2022 “Youpla preyed on the community’s financial vulnerability around sorry business and used fear and misinformation to sell their poor value products,” Chief Executive Officer Nerita Waight said. “The Australian Government need to cover the losses suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who had a Youpla policy. The […]
Open Letter regarding Police Swearing In
Today fourteen legal organisations wrote a letter to Police Minister Lisa Neville, expressing serious concern about Victoria Police’s failure to correctly swear in more than 1,200 police officers over the last eight years. The open letter highlights the serious harms that this mistake has caused, and the troubling lack of reflection in the government’s rush […]
Victoria’s Stolen Generations Redress Scheme is a step on a journey towards justice
MEDIA RELEASE 3 March 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) Content warning: this document contains discussions of abuse and trauma VALS acknowledges and pays our respects to the members of the Stolen Generations. In Victoria, the Stolen Generations started as early as 1837 when the Church Missionary Society set up the Yarra Mission for Aboriginal children. […]
Addressing Coercive Control Without Criminalisation: Unlocking Victorian Justice Webinar
DATE: Tuesday 8 March 2022TIME: 12.45pm to 2pmREGISTRATION LINK: tinyurl.com/IWDCCVALS In January, VALS published a policy paper titled “Addressing Coercive Control Without Criminalisation: Avoiding Blunt Tools that Fail Victim-Survivors”. On International Women’s Day, VALS is hosting this webinar to continue this important conversation. In this webinar, there will be a short community legal education session […]
Public health response crucial to public intoxication reforms
MEDIA RELEASE 19 February 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) A new model for responding to public intoxication is due to take affect in November, but there are still many questions about how the reform will be implemented. VALS believes that it is crucial that Aboriginal services are properly funded to play an important role in […]
Our children deserve better
MEDIA RELEASE 17 February 2022Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) VALS is disappointed by the Andrews Government’s response to the landmark Our Youth, Our Way report. The Andrews Government has decided to continue putting 10 year olds in prison and refused urgently need reforms to the state’s punitive bail laws. This week we marked 14 years […]
VALS’ Invasion Day Webinar 2022
https://youtu.be/OKLZLQo6Gq0 An all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander panel discussion about important justice issues. In the lead up to Invasion Day 2022, VALS is hosted a panel discussion about Aboriginal Self-Determination, systemic racism, ending Aboriginal deaths in custody, and protest rights. Panel Moderator: Nerita Waight, CEO of VALS Nerita is a proud Yorta Yorta woman […]
VALS’ Invasion Day Webinar
In the lead up to Invasion Day, VALS is hosting a panel discussion about Aboriginal Self-Determination, systemic racism, ending Aboriginal deaths in custody, and protest rights. Registration link: www.tinyurl.com/ID22VALSDate: Friday 21 January 2022Time: 1pm to 2pm
Ms Calgaret’s story must be told
Ms Calgaret was a kind soul and mother to her four children and her whole family. She was a proud Yamatji, Noongar, Wongi and Pitjantjatjara woman. Ms Calgaret loved her culture and enjoyed painting and writing. Ms Calgaret had so much more life to live and love to give and wanted to do make positive […]
Victoria must not wait to act on bail reform
14 December 2021 It has been 200 days since VALS and over 50 other human rights, legal, and community organisations wrote to the Andrews Government about the need for urgent bail reform. 200 days later, the Andrews Government has remained committed to an uncompromising and harsh law and order approach that has a devastating impact […]