Aboriginal organisations

This theme focuses on the need for Aboriginal-led organisations being the providers of services to Aboriginal communities. The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) highlighted that Aboriginal organisations are best placed to understand and respond to community needs. For Aboriginal organisations to take the lead in for our communities, they need long-term contracts, streamlined accountability processes, and legislative recognition. RCIADIC particularly identified the need for to receive dedicated funding for research, and policy work. The important role of in providing culturally safe care in both custodial and community settings was also recognised.

While there has been progress, implementation has been partial and irregular. In the legal space, services such as Djirra, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) and their specialised youth program, Balit Ngulu, provide culturally safe legal assistance, but demand often exceeds resources. Aboriginal legal services continue to face barriers in research and advocacy work, as current funding models favour front-line services and rarely provide dedicated support for strategic reform, community legal education, or systemic advocacy.

The AJC has consistently called for greater investment in Aboriginal-led organisations, clearer recognition of their roles in legislation, and genuine self-determination through the transfer of power and decision-making. The AJC’s assessment is that these recommendations remain highly relevant and have strong potential to reduce incarceration and increase cultural safety—if fully implemented with sustained political and financial commitment.