- Published:
- Wednesday 22 July 2015
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) will receive a $900,000 funding boost over three years to support clients represented at the Adult and Children’s Koori Courts.
Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the funding would go towards the VALS Koori Court Initiative, and increase the number of Aboriginal people VALS is able to represent in an expanded Koori Court system.
Koori Courts work to ensure our Aboriginal community is engaged to help deliver better justice outcomes for their community.
The $900,000 Andrews Labor Government funding will deliver additional legal and administrative support to enable VALS to continue representing Koori Victorians who are to appear before a Koori Court.
VALS is Victoria’s principal Aboriginal community-run general legal practice.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula
“At the Aboriginal Justice Forum earlier this year, the Koori Caucus highlighted the important role Koori Courts play.”
“The Government knows that providing accessible, culturally appropriate legal services is an important aspect of reducing overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice system.”
“The Andrews Labor Government has provided the first funding increase for representation in the Koori Courts since 2007.”
Quotes attributable to VALS CEO Wayne Muir
“The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service welcomes the Government’s support.”
“This enables the service to continue our important work in an expanding Koori Court System.”