Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Legal Services for Aboriginal Communities in Victoria
Established in 1973, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is a community-controlled legal service dedicated to providing culturally responsive legal support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Victoria. Our practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law, and Civil Law, with specialized teams addressing police and prison accountability, community justice, and systemic law reform. We prioritize social justice, cultural empowerment, and reducing overrepresentation in the criminal justice system.Our Client Service Officers bridge legal and community needs, offering localized support and referrals. With offices in Preston, Mildura, Shepparton, and Swan Hill, we deliver free legal advice, casework, and advocacy. Our Wirraway practice challenges systemic abuses of power, while our Balit Ngulu program supports young people. VALS combines legal expertise with community leadership to promote equity, cultural safety, and self-determination.
Services
Family Law
Criminal Law
Civil Law
Police Accountability
Community Legal Education
Details
- Year established: 1973
Highlights and features
- We have 50 years of experience advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal rights.
- Our community-controlled model ensures culturally safe and localized legal support.
- Specialized practices in police accountability, family violence, and systemic law reform.
- Free legal services funded by state, federal, and private partnerships.
- Client Service Officers bridge legal systems and community needs across Victoria.
Services
Family Law
VALS provides legal representation for parenting orders, family violence intervention orders, and child protection matters in state and federal courts. Our team specializes in culturally sensitive solutions for Aboriginal families. Services include court representation, mediation, and early resolution programs.
Criminal Law
We offer free legal defense for summary and indictable offenses across Victoria. Our solicitors handle police custody matters, court representation, and specialized programs for young offenders. The Wirraway practice challenges systemic discrimination in policing and corrections through strategic litigation.
Civil Law
VALS addresses tenancy disputes, discrimination claims, and consumer law issues. Our civil practice includes coronial inquests, mental health tribunal cases, and advocacy for disability rights. We prioritize cases impacting Aboriginal communities' social and economic equity.
Police Accountability
The Wirraway practice investigates police misconduct, unlawful searches, and deaths in custody. We represent families in coronial inquests and advocate for systemic reforms to improve accountability and reduce Aboriginal incarceration rates through strategic litigation.
Community Legal Education
VALS delivers culturally tailored legal education programs on rights during protests, fines management, and family law. Our Client Service Officers provide community workshops and referrals to empower Aboriginal individuals to navigate legal systems effectively.
People
Crystal McKinnon
Chairperson
Dr. Crystal McKinnon is a Yamatji academic and Associate Professor in History, Law, and Justice at the University of Melbourne. She contributes to Indigenous studies research and governance in community organizations.
Cienan Muir
Deputy Chair
Cienan Muir is a Yorta Yorta, Taungurung, and Ngarrindjeri policy officer and founder of INDIGINERD. He advocates for Indigenous representation in popular culture and government policy.
Apryl Day
Secretary
Apryl Day is a Yorta Yorta campaigner and founder of the Dhadjowa Foundation. She led efforts to decriminalize public intoxication in Victoria and advocates for police accountability.
Sarina Gentile
Treasurer
Sarina Gentile is a Yorta Yorta justice reform advocate with 20+ years of experience in policy development and culturally safe systems for Aboriginal communities.
Tiana Koehrer
Member
Tiana Koehrer is a Yorta Yorta and Wurundjeri justice sector manager. She focuses on culturally safe supports for incarcerated Aboriginal youth and systemic reform.
Questions
What areas of law does VALS specialize in?
VALS provides legal support in Criminal Law, Family Law, Civil Law, and police/prison accountability cases for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Are VALS services free?
Yes, all legal advice, casework, and representation are provided free of charge to eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.
How can I access after-hours legal support?
VALS offers a 24/7 on-call service through our Preston office for custody notifications and urgent legal matters.
Do you assist with fines or infringements?
Yes, our Infringements Clinic helps eligible clients with special circumstances apply for fine waivers through Fines Victoria.
What regions does VALS operate in?
We serve all of Victoria with offices in Preston, Mildura, Shepparton, and Swan Hill, offering statewide legal support.
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