Posted by Jill Gallagher AO on 23 November 2017

Tags: custody, Koori kids, discrimination, holistic, therapeutic treatment, child protection, family support, family violence, restorative justice, intervention, community-based, culturally safe, inter-generational trauma, social determinants, youth incarceration rates, Royal Commission, community-led, prevention, prevention, Increased funding, early intervention, Increased funding, recommendations Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, Victorian Government, Daniel Andrews, Labor Government, Ms Jill Gallagher AO, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, discrimination, State government, Aboriginal Victorians, Victorian Government, Aboriginal specific wellbeing, Aboriginal health, health and wellbeing, ACCHO, ACCO

You’ve probably heard by now that findings have been handed down by the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.

There were some really good, strong recommendations coming out of the NT Royal Commission that we’re definitely supportive of being applied in Victoria. I encourage you to have a read through the recommendations.

We’ve got to improve youth incarceration rates, and the other social determinants of health issues being experienced by our people, so we can reduce the inter-generational trauma experienced by so many of our mob.

We need the Victorian Government to listen and learn from the NT recommendations for an increased focus on early intervention, prevention, rehabilitation and community-led diversion programs.

Through culturally safe, community-based early intervention and support, and diversion and restorative justice programs delivered through Aboriginal community controlled organisations and community service organisations, we can limit the negative impact of these issues. But increased funding is required to achieve this, and at VACCHO we are going to have to be strong advocates on this.

I know most of you are familiar with youth justice and other associated issues that I’m talking about, but with so many new staff joining us in recent months it’s good for us to remind ourselves of all of the issues that contribute to poor health and wellbeing outcomes for our mob. We did some great yarnin’ around this at VACCHO Day on Friday, and it was deadly to see everyone put a lot of thought into how we can deliver even more for our mob.

We are making headway with our holistic approach to health and wellbeing for Aboriginal Victorians; Government, relevant sector organisations and the community are listening to us and understanding why a holistic approach delivers results. As VACCHO staff we are all advocates for this work and we are making a difference for all Aboriginal Victorians. I thank all of you who took part in VACCHO day, and especially welcome all of our new staff as they join us in Closing the Gap.

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