1 JULY 2024
The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is now the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency.
This change to VACCA’s name reflects both our significant growth in service delivery and our ongoing commitment to protecting the rights, safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, Elders and communities.
For 47 years, VACCA has provided connection to culture to Aboriginal families who are in need of support. Renewing our name honours both VACCA’s long history, exceptional leadership in driving better outcomes, and our knowledge that safe, thriving Aboriginal children and families come from strong, connected communities.
Our region and place-based approaches to service delivery enables us to provide local solutions to better meet the needs of Victoria’s Aboriginal community, while our size and scale allows us to offer state-wide services, advocating at the highest level to inform government policy and reform, and drive change for Community.
“Our philosophy at VACCA has always been that our children are our future. But our children don’t exist in isolation and brighter futures require strong, connected families and communities,” says VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett.
Safe and resilient Aboriginal children and strong Aboriginal families come from culturally connected communities. VACCA knows the power of culture, and its vital importance in the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal children, and the growth of thriving Aboriginal communities.
“As the peak voice for Aboriginal children in Victoria, our commitment to protecting the rights and best interests of Aboriginal children and elevating their right to voice will never change. We know that Aboriginal children and young people achieve better outcomes when they are surrounded in culture, growing up in environments that build strong identities,” says Ms Bamblett. “Privileging culture is at the heart of all that we do.”
Since our beginnings in 1977, VACCA has continuously monitored, evaluated and improved our services to meet Community need. Today, we provide safety, strength and supports for thousands of Aboriginal children, families and Elders and by delivering locally tailored programs and opportunities to connect to culture.
From a handful of staff, VACCA has grown to be now more than 1,000 people strong. We are proud to be an employer of choice for Aboriginal people in Victoria, providing staff with pathways for employment, career development, and long-term prosperity.
As the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community agency we will continue to create better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout Victoria; guided by community, for community, with community.
- ENDS -
FOR RELEASE –
Beth Cesarin - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0439 117 408 E: bethc@vacca.org
Sarah Gafforini – Director, Office of the CEO VACCA
T: 0427 621 421/ E: sarahg@vacca.org
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s Peak Voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for over 47 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.