VACCHO welcomes the final report delivered by the Yoorrook Justice Commission which makes 100 recommendations to the Victorian government.

The recommendations call for fundamental change across nearly every major area of public policy in Victoria and VACCHO CEO, Dr Jill Gallagher AO commends Yoorook for its tireless commitment to seeking the truth.

“I am pleased to see that many of the recommendations that VACCHO submitted to the Commission have been adopted, but it’s important to remember that these recommendations form only one part of the report. “

She said Victorians must not lose sight of the thousands of utterly heartbreaking truths and stories that have been told throughout the past four years.

Yoorrook has made an extraordinary start by collating thousands of testimonies, but Dr Gallagher says the truth-telling doesn’t stop here.

“There are still so many voices that remain unheard, so many truths that still need to be told, and as we know, injustices are still happening here and now”.

Dr. Gallagher was one of many people who delivered a powerful and heartfelt submission at the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s hearings.

Her deeply personal submission delved into the painful impacts her mother and siblings experienced while trying to survive in a society where it wasn’t safe to be Aboriginal.

Dr Gallagher wants to reiterate that these stories aren’t just historical uncoverings – these are stories told by people still alive today who lived through racist, genocidal policies.

“My 98-year-old mum, together with many others, had to live with the pain of having their children taken from them, the hopelessness of being unable to put down their roots and the horror of being subjected to vile racism on a daily basis.”

VACCHO supports the recommendation to establish a permanent truth-telling body, as it will ensure that Aboriginal people can continue to speak their truth.

“We don’t blame anyone alive today for the atrocities that happened to Aboriginal people in the past, but the ongoing injustices experienced by my people must stop today.”

Dr Gallagher said that starts by accepting these stories for the truths and facts that they are.

“We must all come together with a shared responsibility to follow the roadmap to ensure these recommendations lead to an equitable present and future.”

“Yoorrook leaves a lasting legacy which has been vital in seeking truth for our ancestors and healing for our future.”

Image credit: Irene van den Berg.
Courtesy Yoorrook Justice Commission.