The Government’s decisions are critical to containing the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, youth detention centres
MEDIA RELEASE 21 July 2020 The Government’s decisions over the next few days and weeks are critical to containing the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, youth detention centres and across Victoria Despite the Government’s efforts, COVID-19 has entered Victoria’s prison and youth detention systems. In the latest, alarming developments, six prisons are now in lockdown, […]
VALS calls for human rights compliant response to Covid-19 case in Melbourne prison
VALS calls for a human rights compliant, health driven government response to confirmed covid-19 case in Melbourne prison VALS understands that a recently detained person in a Melbourne prison has been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. We have been advised that the person is being provided with medical care and is currently in protective quarantine. The […]
VALS Calls Victorian Government to Raise the Age of Criminal Responsibility to 14
Today, the Council of Attorneys-General decided not to raise the age of criminal responsibility. This is despite research from the Australia Institute and Change the Record that shows that most Australians agree children as young as 10 years old do not belong in prison, and that Australia’s age of criminal responsibility should be increased from […]
A ‘leading’ youth justice system is one where children under 14 are not imprisoned
The Victorian Government’s new Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2020-2030 contains some strong elements that will have a positive impact on the lives of children in Victoria. However, Smart Justice for Young People, a coalition of social services, health, legal, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, youth advocacy organisations and academic experts, are calling for the Victorian […]
VALS outraged by death in custody of proud Yorta Yorta woman
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) would like to express its sincere condolences and support to the family, friends and community of Veronica Marie Nelson Walker, a proud Yorta Yorta woman who passed away in Dame Phyllis Front Centre on Thursday 2nd January 2020. We are outraged by this death and tragic loss. Full statement […]
SEAAJSL / VALS Annual General Meeting Communique
On Friday the 20th of December 2019 the South Eastern Australian Aboriginal Justice Services Limited (trading as the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service) held their Annual General Meeting. Below is a communique of the outcomes of the meeting. SEAAJSL | VALS Annual General Meeting Communique
Notice of VALS Annual General Meeting
The Board of Directors of South East Australian Aboriginal Justice Service Limited (SEAAJSL), trading as the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, invites its members to attend the 2019 Annual General Meeting. Date: Friday 20th of December, 2019 Time: 10.30am -12.00pm Location: Aunty Bunta Community Room, 273 High Street Preston, VIC, 3072/ Nominations for vacant Board of […]
Media Release – VALS Submission to CCYP Inquiry – Our Youth, Our Way
VALS welcomes to the opportunity to provide feedback to the Inquiry of the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP), Our Youth Our Way, into over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the youth justice system. Despite numerous inquiries and reviews of the youth justice system in recent years, repeated […]
Media Release – Police pursuit policy must be limited to avoid more deaths
Two years after the tragic death of Raymond Noel Lindsay Thomas during a police pursuit on 25 June 2017, a Direction Hearing yesterday before Coroner John Olle raised questions about inconsistencies in the evidence, including when police officers commenced the pursuit, and the speed their vehicle was travelling at. The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) […]
Media Release – Inquest to probe police pursuit death
Raymond Noel Lindsay Thomas, a 29-year-old Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Wiradjuri man, tragically passed away on 25 June 2017, after sustaining injuries during a police pursuit near his home. More than two years after his death, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (‘VALS’) is representing Raymond’s family at a coronial hearing on 17 October 2019. Full statement […]