VALS urges Victorian Government to overhaul justice system for Aboriginal people
VALS is calling on the Victorian government to make urgent changes to the criminal justice system, following two weeks of startling evidence given to the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Yoorrook Commissioners heard emotional and damning evidence from Aboriginal people and experts in the criminal justice and child protection areas which highlighted the damaging effects the systems […]
VALS to push for systemic transformation in historic Yoorrook hearings
A panel of representatives from VALS will appear before the Yoorrook Justice Commission today to call for radical change to address the ongoing harm inflicted upon First Peoples in Victoria by unjust laws and practices. The Commission, which is now into its second week of public hearings focused on the criminal justice and child protection […]
Sasha’s father hopes coronial inquest will uncover ‘fault in the system’
A coronial inquest will be held this week into the death of a 12-year-old Aboriginal girl who tragically died in 2019 at the Royal Children’s Hospital, after spending almost four days at a regional hospital. The girl will be known as Sasha during the proceedings. At the time of her death, parental responsibility for Sasha […]
VALS gives voice to our clients in Yoorrook submissions
Empowering our clients is a core part of VALS’ purpose. Empowering our clients is crucial to breaking the generational impacts of invasion and colonisation. Today VALS made our first two submissions, known as nuther-mooyoop, to the Yoorrook Justice Commission and we are proud to contribute the experiences, and the demands for reforms to the criminal […]
Over 230 Victorian candidates committed to raising the age of criminal responsibility
Over 230 candidates running in the 2022 Victorian State Election have stated they support raising the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 in survey results published today by Smart Justice for Young People. This is in addition to the 65,799 Victorian residents who have signed the petition calling on the Victorian government to […]
Joint letter to the Attorney-General regarding OPCAT and the recent SPT visit
Today we have written to Victoria’s Attorney-General requesting consideration of the following two recommendations: The Victorian Government should advocate with other Australian governments, to ensure that the SPT’s visit to Australia is resumed and completed successfully. The Victorian Government must take urgent action to establish/designate independent and culturally appropriate detention oversight in Victoria, in compliance […]
Victoria must lead the way on independent detention oversight
The federal process to implement independent detention oversight under the UN’s OPCAT treaty has again failed. The UN’s SPT has suspended a visit to Australia – which aimed to provide advice on implementing independent detention oversight – because several governments obstructed their work. Australian governments have already missed several deadlines for the implementation of independent […]
Family of beloved Nish want answers from Coronial Inquest
Narisha Cash, a 41 year old Jingili Aboriginal woman, who the family have requested be referred to as Nish, died on 26 March 2020, after significant delays in the arrival of emergency services after she called 000 for help. Nish was a proud big sister. As the eldest of three siblings, she ensured the family […]
Victoria’s politicians must commit to A Plan for Aboriginal Justice in Victoria
The 2022 Victorian Election is an opportunity for all politicians and parties to commit to A Plan for Aboriginal Justice in Victoria. A plan that will give Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people a chance to breathe. A plan to rebuild the justice system so that it gives everyone a fair chance in life. There […]
Police Impunity Must End
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), the Police Accountability Project and other community legal centres and Aboriginal organisations have called on Premier Daniel Andrews to overhaul the state’s failed police oversight system with the introduction of a Police Ombudsman. VALS and the Police Accountability Project are part of a coalition of lawyers, non-profit organisations and […]
Wills Day at VALS – October 2022
Date: Thursday 20 October, 2022 and Thursday 27 October 2022Time: 10am Info Session on 20th October (compulsory to attend), appointments to be booked for 20th to give instructions10am – 4.30pm on 27th October for signing of Wills and Power of AttorneyLocation: 273 High St, Preston, VIC, 3072RSVP: call the Civil Law and Human Rights team […]
Statement from Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service regarding the racist treatment of Aboriginal players at Hawthorn Football Club
I am deeply saddened by the reports of racism at Hawthorn Football Club. My heart goes out to the families in these stories. As an Aboriginal woman and the leader of an organisation that has many Aboriginal staff and works with Aboriginal people across Victoria, we are filled with sorrow and grief about the trauma […]
Death in custody of Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri beloved artist, father and brother, Clinton Austin
On Sunday 11 September 2022, Clinton Austin, a 38-year-old Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man, passed away in custody at Loddon Prison in Victoria. Clinton’s death is currently being investigated by the Coroner’s Court of Victoria. Clinton was a father and a well-known artist. He had a big and kind heart and was close to his family, […]
Raise the Age Panel Discussion
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) and the Amnesty International Australia Victorian Activism and Leadership Committee (Victorian ALC) are partnering in a campaign to “Raise the Age” of criminal responsibility in the lead up to the Victorian election. Every child should be free to go to school, have a safe home to live in andbe […]
Victoria’s tough-on-crime politics has stolen billions of dollars from communities
2 September 2022 The Victorian Auditor-Generals Office published a report that found that Victoria Police received $2 billion for new staff, without producing a proper business case, and that it cannot show that the funding has resulted in any benefit. VALS believes this funding, and subsequent expenditure in further staffing and weaponry for Victoria Police, […]