First Nations Cultural Capability Uplift

The First Nations Cultural Capability Uplift program (FNCCU) is a state-wide initiative designed to build the cultural capability of legal professionals across Victoria. The project is led by VALS in partnership with the Institute of Victoria (LIV) and Victoria Legal Aid (VLA), initiated in response to recommendations from the inquest into the death of Veronica Nelson, a proud Gunditjimara, Dja Dja Wurung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman.  It is well established that First Nations peoples in Victoria frequently experience inadequate interactions with legal practitioners, organisations, and the justice system, and that this lack of culturally appropriate and safe advocacy and support often translates into poor justice outcomes.

The uplift comprises of:

A Framework for Strengthening First Nations Cultural Capability (hereafter, the Framework)
An overarching Framework that identifies thirteen cultural capability domains, each with identified knowledge to develop, skills to build and supporting attitudes to foster;
Training
Foundational and specialist training for individual legal practitioners focused on understanding and developing these capability domains;
A Better Practice Guide
Provided to participants who have complete the training, this Guide provides practical guidance, tips, tools and resources that individual practitioners can use to support their training ‘back in the office’ and maintain their learning;
Community of Practice monthly sessions (6 over 6 months)
To further consolidate learning.

The First Nations Cultural Capability Uplift program was developed for the Victorian legal sector for several reasons:

First Nations peoples in Australia are a sovereign people with unique rights, as recognised in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They occupy a unique position accordingly, that is not equivalent to that of other culturally and linguistically diverse groups within Australia.
Victorian and Australian law have been fundamental to the historical colonial oppression and dispossession of First Nations peoples. Notwithstanding the good intentions of many, the legal and justice systems uniquely target First Nations peoples, creating and perpetuating inequities and harm.
Culturally accessible, safe, and responsive legal services play a key role in reducing disadvantage and strengthening the justice equity outcomes experienced by First Nations peoples.
The reality of the legal workforce means that there is a need for good allies. The percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practising solicitors is only 0.8% of the total nationally. Given this many First Nations clients, businesses and organisations will need to be assisted by non-First Nations practitioners and organisations.

Training & Better Practice Guidance:

This training is the first in the suite of First Nations Cultural Capability Uplift Program. The Foundational Training and Practice Guidance brings to life the FNCCU Framework’s capability domains to support legal practitioners to work in a culturally responsive and empowering way with First Nations clients. Participants will develop or strengthen the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need on their journey of cultural capability.

At its core, this project aims to improve access to culturally safe, responsive, and equitable legal support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Foundational Training and Practice Guidance includes:

3-hour self-paced eLearn (to be completed in 15 business day period of in person workshop)

Full day Training Practice Skills and Guidance
- Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm (At VALS 273 High St, Preston VIC 3072)
- Catered: Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Arrival: 9:15am as Welcome to Country at 930am, please be ready to be present.  
- Attendees provided with hard copy and PDF version of Strengthening First Nations Cultural Capability in the Victorian Legal Sector: Better Practice Guide
Certificate and Badge for completion

Eligible for 9 CPD Points (PS EP)

Both eLearn and Full day training must be complete within timeframe for certificate to be issued.

There are no prerequisites to enrol in the Foundational Training and Practice Guidance Package. However, to attend the in-person session you must first complete the eLearning within the specified timeframe. You will receive the link to start your eLearn 15 business days before your in-person training date; it must be completed to attend the full day in person training as it provides essential foundational knowledge.

Who is the training for?

Legal practitioners working in Victoria. This includes:

Solicitors
Barristers
Legal secretaries
Paralegals
Those working in non-legal support roles

This training is for all legal practitioners listed above; whether you have been in your role for months or years you are invited to participate.

Learning Objectives:

Increased knowledge and understanding about the history of settler colonial impact and the ongoing impact of the legal system.
Increased capability to reflect on your attitudes and positionality in delivering culturally safe and responsive services.
Skill development for culturally safe and responsive practice with First Nations clients.
Increased confidence and motivation to deliver culturally safe and responsive services to First Nations clients.

How do I register for the Foundational Training and Practice Guidance?

If you are interested in hosting an ‘in-house’ workshop at your organisation or would like to collaborate with another to co-host, please email [email protected] with your request and we will be in touch (10-20 attendees)

To register for an open training session as an individual, please follow this link for availability

FNCCU Framework:

First Nations Cultural Capability Framework for the Victorian Legal Profession

Read and download the First Nations Cultural Capability Framework for the Victorian Legal Profession

Acknowledgements

We, the partners of the First Nations Cultural Capability Uplift project, acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples and Traditional Owners and custodians of the land, skies and waterways upon which our lives depend. We acknowledge and pay our respects to ancestors of this country, Elders, knowledge holders and leaders – past, present, and emerging. We recognise that First Nations peoples frequently experience inadequate interactions with legal practitioners, organisations, and the justice system, and that this lack of culturally appropriate and responsive advocacy and support often translates to poor outcomes. We acknowledge the ongoing leadership of Aboriginal communities and ACCOs in striving to improve justice outcomes and address these perpetual and ongoing inequalities.

Strengthening Practice, Upholding Justice Webinar

This was filmed on June 23, 2025 and explains this landmark initiative to improve the experiences of First Nations people seeking legal advice and representation in Victoria.

Panellists include: 

– Tim Goodwin (Moderator), Barrister 

– Ashley Morris Director of First Nations Services, Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) 

– Adam Awty CEO of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) 

– Fiona McLeay Commissioner of the Victorian Legal Services Board (VLSB) 

– Nerita Waight CEO of VALS