VALS welcomes the announcement of the closure of Port Phillip and Dhurringile Prisons. Prisons represent sites of significant harm and suffering for our people. They do not rehabilitate people and…

After years of consultation and negotiations with the legal sector and key stakeholders, the Allan Labor Government today introduced a Youth Justice Bill to Victorian Parliament. VALS welcomes the introduction…

In the middle of Reconciliation Week, the Attorney General’s Department has released the final report of the National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) independent Review. The NLAP Review, led by Dr…

In a suite of family violence reforms announced at last night’s Federal Budget, the rights to safety and culturally safe legal support for Aboriginal women and children were invisible. It…

Today, the Victorian Government announced an additional four years of base-level funding for VALS’ specialist Balit Ngulu and Baggarrook programs with a commitment for these programs to be made ongoing…

All Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people deserve access to culturally safe legal services, no matter what their income is. As of today, VALS will begin a staged approach to…

The coronial inquest into the death in custody of Heather Calgaret will begin on Monday 29 April 2024 at the Coroner’s Court of Victoria and is scheduled to run for…

The Victorian Government response to the Yoorrook for Justice report is unworthy of the heart wrenching truths that were told at the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander…

In Victoria, freedom of speech is enshrined in the state’s Charter of Human Rights. This right must be protected. Yesterday, the Victorian Police Association called for a permit system to…

Today, the Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes, announced her decision to ditch vital bail reforms for children that would have reduced the over-incarceration of Aboriginal children and instead announced a trial of…