8 JULY 2025
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) calls on the Victorian government to implement all 100 recommendations outlined in the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s final report which was tabled in parliament last week.
After four years of truth-telling and more than 1,300 submissions, it is time for the government to act. VACCA remains disappointed at the limited progress made towards implementing recommendations outlined in Yoorrok’s interim report in 2023.
“Aboriginal Victorians cannot afford another missed opportunity for real, transformative change to occur,” said VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett. “While we are thankful for increased government investment in reform, the current system is driven by budget cycle. Real change can only occur with sustained, secure funding that is proportionate to demand.”
Removed from family and forced from Country, the legacy of colonisation for Aboriginal people is one of dispossession, violence and death. Decades of racist policy and ongoing systemic injustices have left generations to struggle with a loss of identity and inability to build economic prosperity.
The final recommendation outlined in the report calls for both statewide and Traditional Owner treaties to recognise the harms caused and pave the way for redress.
“The loss of human rights, stolen land, attempts to erase our culture and language - we must recognise this as genocide. The truth-telling process has laid these facts bare,” said Mrs Bamblett. “Redress is about recognising the wrongs of the past, and holding the systems which have oppressed us accountable.”
The report also calls for a permanent First Peoples' assembly to be embedded as a representative body with decision-making powers over policies affecting Aboriginal Victorians.
“We need the Victorian government to commit to a genuine partnership with Aboriginal people,” said Mrs Bamblett. “Supporting Aboriginal-led, evidence-based changes to policy and legislation is the only path to true reform and change.”
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FOR RELEASE
Beth Cesarin - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0472 505 780 E: bethc@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.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.