Overview
Systemic and structural barriers that Aboriginal people experience, such as racism, social and economic disadvantage and involvement in the child protection system, can lead to over-representation in the justice system and entrenched cycles of disadvantage.
Measures under Goal 15 have worsened
Overall, the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice system has worsened. Over the past year, numbers and rates of Aboriginal men and women processed by police have increased, as have the numbers and rates of Aboriginal men and women in prison. The number and rate of Aboriginal young people (10-17) in detention have also increased.
Improvements under this goal include decreased rates of Aboriginal men and women under community-based corrections supervision, and a decrease in the proportion of Aboriginal men and women returning to prison under sentence within two years of release.
Closing the Gap - How Victoria is tracking nationally
Outcome 10: In 2025, the age-standardised rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners was 2,500.2 per 100,000 adults across Australia, compared to 1,636.2 per 100,000 adults in Victoria. Nationally, based on progress from the baseline year (2019), the rate is worsening. In Victoria, there has been some improvement since the baseline year.
Outcome 11: In 2024-25, the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10–17 years) in detention on an average day across Australia was 25.7 per 10,000 young people, compared to 8.1 per 10,000 young people in Victoria. Victoria has continued to exceed Target 11, with a 47 per cent reduction in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people incarceration rates since 2018-19.
Goal 15 directly aligns with the following Closing the Gap Outcomes and Targets
Outcome 10: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
- Target 10: By 2031, reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults held in incarceration by at least 15 per cent.
Outcome 11: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
- Target 11: By 2031, reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10‑17 years) in detention by at least 30 per cent.
Data Note
All measures in this goal are reported on.
15.1 Decrease the number and eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in the justice system
Measure 15.1.1 Number, rate, and age profile of unique youth (10-17 years) alleged offenders processed by police
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 811 Aboriginal 10–17-year-olds received a caution, arrest or summons by Victoria police. This represents a rate of 580.9 per 10,000 Aboriginal 10-17-year-olds processed by police.
Of those 811 Aboriginal young people, 300 were 10-14 years old and 511 were 15-17 years old. This represents 345.5 per 10,000 10–14-year-olds, and 968.4 per 10,000 15–17-year-olds.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since 2023-24, the number of unique alleged youth offenders processed by police in 2024-25 decreased by 5 in total. This number was made up of 10 fewer 10–14-year-olds being processed, and 5 more 15–17-year-olds being processed.
Compared with 2015-16, the number of unique youth alleged offenders processed by police in 2024-25 increased by 130 in total. This number was made up of 36 more 10–14-year-olds and 94 more 15–17-year-olds being processed.
The rate of unique Aboriginal youth offenders processed by police per 1,000 Aboriginal young people has been declining for all age cohorts since 2015-16. Although the number has increased, the youth population has increased more rapidly, so the rate has declined. This means that results for this measure are improving, but there remains disparity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 6,135 non-Aboriginal 10–17-year-olds received a caution, arrest or summons by Victoria police. This represents a rate of 94.6 per 10,000 non-Aboriginal 10-17-year-olds.
Of those 6,135 non-Aboriginal young people, 1,876 were 10-14 years old and 4,295 were 15-17 years old. This represents 45.7 per 10,000 10–14-year-olds, and 174.3 per 10,000 15–17-year-olds.
In 2024–25, Aboriginal 10-17-year-olds were 6.1 times more likely to be processed by police than their non-Aboriginal peers. Broken down by age group, Aboriginal 10-14-year-olds were 7.6 times more likely, and 15-17-year-olds were 5.6 times more likely to be processed by police. Over the long term this trend has increased slightly with Aboriginal 10-17-year-olds 5.4 times more likely, 10-14-year-olds 7.3 times more likely, and 15-17-year-olds 4.8 times more likely to be processed by police in 2015-16.
Aboriginal Family Centred Youth Justice program – Aboriginal Youth Justice
SDRF enabler 4: Transfer power and resources to community
The 2021/2022 State Budget provided funding to develop and implement an early intervention family service and specialist family practitioners to keep Aboriginal children under 14 years of age out of the criminal justice system. The funding was rephased to allow time for broader consultation and design work with Aboriginal Justice Caucus, Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees and ACCOs.
Aboriginal Youth Justice conducted detailed co-design work with Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC), VACCA and VALS through workshops between May and August 2025, with evaluation of the programs’ implementation and achievements underway. The co-design sessions have refined and strengthened each ACCO’s service model, building on earlier co-design work, and have supported ACCOs to finalise service elements, promotion strategies and governance structures. As service delivery begins to take shape, ACCOs are already seeing encouraging signs of engagement from young people.
The following example, shared by a BDAC Specialist Family Practitioner, highlights the early impact of the program’s support:
“A young fella that is currently being supported in the AFC-YJ program has had a fantastic week at school. In contrast to last week, where he displayed some negative behaviours, he helped another student that had fallen off his bike and has increased his in-class participation. He was rewarded with a Yabbying adventure where he caught his first ever Yabby. When I arrived at the school Thursday, I was greeted with a plate of food that he had made in kitchen class. Engagement is fantastic and some really positive behaviours are starting to shine through.”
Measure 15.1.2 Average daily number and rate of children and young people (10-17 years) under youth justice supervision in detention and community-based supervision
What does the data say?
On an average day in 2024–25 there were 53.1 Aboriginal young people (10-17 years) under youth justice supervision. Of those, 42.1 were under community-based supervision and 11.3 were in detention.
The rate of Aboriginal young people (10-17 years) under youth justice supervision was 38 per 10,000 people. For community-based supervision and detention the rates were 30.2 per 10,000 and 8.1 per 10,000 respectively.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Between 2023-24 and 2024-25 the average daily number of Aboriginal young people (10-17) under youth justice supervision increased from 47.8 to 53.1. This consisted of an increase from 38.1 to 42.1 in the average daily number under community-based supervision and an increase from 10.2 to 11.3 in the average daily number in detention.
Since 2015-16 there has been a large reduction in the average daily number of Aboriginal young people under community-based supervision. Between 2015–16 and 2024–25 the average number of Aboriginal young peopel has reduced from 113.3 to 42.1. For detention-based supervision there was a reduction in the same period from 18.8 in 2015–16 to 11.3 in 2024-25.
Between 2023-24 and 2024-25 the rate of Aboriginal young people under community-based supervision increased from 27.2 to 30.2 per 10,000. In the same period the rate of Aboriginal young people in detention increased from 7.3 to 8.1 per 10,000.
Since 2015-16 there has been a large reduction in the rate of Aboriginal young people in community-based supervision and detention. Between 2015–16 and 2024–25 the rate of Aboriginal young people decreased from 118.2 to 30.2 and the rate in detention decreased from 19.6 to 8.1.
Long term reduction in the number and rate of children in both community-based supervision and detention means that results for this measure are improving.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
On an average day in 2024–25, there were 246.3 non-Aboriginal young people (10-17 years) under youth justice supervision. Of those, 186.2 were under community-based supervision and 62.3 were in detention.
The rate of non-Aboriginal young people (10-17 years) under youth justice supervision was 3.8 per 10,000 people. For community-based supervision and detention the rates were 2.8 per 10,000 and 1.0 per 10,000 respectively.
In 2024–25, Aboriginal young people (10-17-years) were 10.6 times more likely to be under community-based supervision and 8.1 times more likely to be in detention. Over the long-term overrepresentation has decreased for both community-based supervision and detention. In 2015-16 Aboriginal young people were 13.8 times more likely to be under community-based supervision and 14.3 times more likely to be in detention than their non-Aboriginal peers.
Measure 15.1.3 Proportion of first-time youth alleged offenders (10-17 years) cautioned by police
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, there were 310 Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders. Of those, 244 received a caution, representing 78.7 per cent of Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since 2023–24, the number of Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders cautioned has decreased from 315 to 244. This means that the proportion of Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders cautioned has decreased by 1.0 percentage point. Consequently, charging of Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders increased in the short term.
However, since 2015–16, the proportion of Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders cautioned has increased in both number and percentage. In 2015–16 182 out of 310 Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders were cautioned by police representing 58.7 per cent being cautioned. This means that in 2024–25 cautions over the long term have increased by 20 percentage points.
Increases in the proportion of cautioning for Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders over the long-term means this measure is improving.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, there were 3,441 non-Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders. Of those, 2,618 received a caution, representing 76.1 per cent. This means Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders were as likely to receive a caution in 2024–25.
Cautioning of non-Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders has increased over the long term. In 2015–16 60.7 per cent of non-Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders were cautioned by police. This means Aboriginal first-time youth alleged offenders were 1.5 times as likely to receive a caution 2015–16.
Measure 15.1.4 Proportion of young people (10-17 years) in detention on remand
What does the data say?
In June quarter 2025 there were on an average night 12.9 Aboriginal youth (10-17 years) in detention in Victoria. Of Those 8.4 were in detention unsentenced. This means that 72.2 per cent of Aboriginal youth in detention were there unsentenced. Aboriginal youth in detention unsentenced represent 9.2 per cent of all youth in detention on an average night in Victoria.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since June quarter 2024, the number of Aboriginal youth in detention on an average night has increased from 7.9 to 12.9. The number of Aboriginal youth in detention on unsentenced detention also increased from 6.7 people on an average night in June quarter 2023–24 to 9.3 in June quarter 2024–25. This means that the proportion of Aboriginal youth unsentenced in detention reduced from 84.8 per cent in June quarter 2024 to 72.2 in June quarter 2025.
Since June quarter 2016, the number of Aboriginal youth in detention on an average night has decreased from 19.0 to 12.9. The number of Aboriginal youth in detention unsentenced also decreased from 13.0 people on an average night in June quarter 2024 to 9.3 in June quarter 2025. This means that the proportion of Aboriginal youth in detention unsentenced also increased from 68.4 per cent in June quarter 2024 to 72.2 in June quarter 2025.
Aboriginal youth in detention unsentenced as a proportion of all youth in detention has decreased over the short and long term. 11.8 per cent of the youth detention population were Aboriginal in June quarter 2024 and 13.5 per cent in June quarter 2016.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In June quarter 2025 there were, on an average night, 78.7 non-Aboriginal youth in detention in Victoria. Of Those 40.4 were in detention unsentenced. This means that 51.3 per cent of non-Aboriginal youth in detention were there unsentenced. This is substantially lower than the proportion of Aboriginal youth in detention on unsentenced detention.
Over time the proportion of non-Aboriginal youth in detention unsentenced as proportion of all non-Aboriginal youth in detention has reduced in the long and short term with 84.5 per cent of non-Aboriginal youth in detention unsentenced in June quarter 2024 and 68.8 per cent in June quarter 2016.
15.2 Decrease the number and eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal women in the justice system
Measure 15.2.1 Number and rate of unique adult female alleged offenders processed by police
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 1,481 Aboriginal adult women were processed by police. This represents a rate of 562.2 per 10,000 Aboriginal women.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since 2023–24, the number of Aboriginal women processed by police increased by 95. When analysing the rate, there were 20.4 more per 10,000 Aboriginal women processed by police in 2024-25 compared with 2023–24.
Since 2015–16, the number of Aboriginal women processed by police has increased by 484. When analysing the rate, that is an increase of 70.8 more per 10,000 Aboriginal women being processed by police in the same time period.
Increasing rates of Aboriginal women being processed by police means that results for this measure are declining.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 14,326 non-Aboriginal women were processed by police in Victoria. This represents a rate of 51.2 per 10,000 non-Aboriginal women. The rate of non-Aboriginal women being processed by police has been decreasing over time since 2015–16.
In 2024–25, Aboriginal women were 11 times more likely to be processed by police than their non-Aboriginal peers. Over time this overrepresentation has been getting worse. In 2015-16 Aboriginal women were 8.7 times more likely to be processed by police.
Measure 15.2.2 Average daily number and rate of Aboriginal women under corrections supervision in prison and community corrections
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, there were 150 Aboriginal women under community-based corrections supervision per day on average. This represents a rate of 56.9 per 10,000 Aboriginal women.
In 2024–25, there were 41 Aboriginal women in prison per day on average. This represents a rate of 15.6 per 10,000 Aboriginal women.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since 2023–24, the number of Aboriginal women under community-based supervision was 5 fewer per day on average. This means that the rate decreased by 3.7 per 10,000 in 2024-25. There were on average 47 fewer Aboriginal women under community-based corrections supervision in 2024-25 than in 2015-16. This means that the rate decreased by 40.2 per 10,000 since 2015-16.
Since 2023–24, the number of Aboriginal women under corrections supervision in prison per day on average increased by 5. This means that the rate increased by 1.5 Aboriginal women per 10,000 in 2024-25. There was on average 1 more Aboriginal woman under corrections supervision in prison per day in 2024-25 than in 2015-16. Given population increases, this means that the rate has decreased by 4.2 per 10,000 since 2015-16.
The short- and long-term decreases in the rate of community-based corrections supervision and the long-term decrease in the rate of corrections supervision in prison suggest improving results for this measure.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, there were 985 non-Aboriginal women under community-based corrections supervision per day on average. This represents a rate of 3.5 per 10,000 non-Aboriginal women. In 2024–25, there were 251 non-Aboriginal women under corrections supervision in prison per day on average. This represents a rate of 0.9 per 10,000 non-Aboriginal women.
Over the long term, the number and rate of non-Aboriginal women in both community-based corrections supervision and in prison have been decreasing.
Although rates may be improving for Aboriginal women, they remained 16.2 times more likely to be under community-based corrections supervision and 17.4 times more likely to be in prison than their non-Aboriginal peers in 2024-25. For both community-based and prison corrections supervision the overrepresentation of Aboriginal women has been getting worse. In 2015-16, Aboriginal women were 11.5 times more likely to be in community-based correction supervision and 13.2 times more likely to be in prison compared with their non-Aboriginal peers.
Measure 15.2.3 Proportion of women who return to prison under sentence within two years of release
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 7 Aboriginal women returned to prison within 2 years of release. This represents 16.7 per cent of all Aboriginal women released from prison.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since 2023–24, the number of Aboriginal women returning to prison within 2 years of release decreased by 12. There were 16 fewer Aboriginal women returned to prison within 2 years of release in 2024-25 than 2015–16. This is a decrease of 37.0 percentage points in the percentage of Aboriginal women returning to prison after release. This means that results for this measure are improving.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 70 non-Aboriginal women returned to prison within 2 years of release. This represents 27.5 per cent of all non-Aboriginal women released from prison. As such, Aboriginal women were less likely to return to prison within 2 years of release than their non-Aboriginal peers in 2024-25.
Measure 15.2.4 Proportion of women in prison on remand
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 23 of the 41 Aboriginal women in prison were on remand. This represented 56.1 per cent of all Aboriginal women in prison. Aboriginal women in prison on remand represented 7.9 per cent of all women in prison.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
There were 4 more Aboriginal women in prison on remand in 2024-25 than in 2023-24. This means that the proportion of Aboriginal women in prison who are on remand has increased 3.3 percentage points since 2023–24.
There were 7 more Aboriginal women in prison on remand in 2024-25 than in 2015–16. This means that the proportion of Aboriginal women in prison who are on remand has increased by 16.1 percentage points since 2015–16. The percentage of Aboriginal women in prison on remand compared with the population of all women in prison has risen by 3.9 percentage points since 2015–16.
The increasing number and percentage of Aboriginal women in prison on remand means that results for this measure are declining.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 103 of the 251 non-Aboriginal women in prison were on remand. This represented 41.0 per cent of all non-Aboriginal women in prison. Although the number of non-Aboriginal women in prison on remand has been decreasing in both the short and long term, the proportion of non-Aboriginal women in prison who are on remand has increased by 8.1 percentage points since 2015–16.
Programs focused on culturally safe supports for Aboriginal people in prison – Corrections Victoria
SDRF enabler 2: Address racism and promote cultural safety
The 2024/25 State Budget provided $11.979 million to support existing programs for Aboriginal people in prison namely supporting the Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer staffing model, the operation of the Statewide Indigenous Arts in Prison and Community Program, Wadamba Prison to Work Program and Baggarroook Aboriginal Women's Transitional Housing Program.
The Workforce and Aboriginal Outcomes team within Corrections Victoria works with ACCOs promoting self-determination for Aboriginal people and fostering long term sustainable relationships between Corrections Victoria and key partners.
Corrections Victoria is successfully working with service providers with a focus on self-determination, reporting and evaluations. Evaluations of cultural programs are underway and Corrections Victoria will work with the relevant providers and stakeholders to implement identified learnings.
15.3 Decrease the number and eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal men in the justice system
Measure 15.3.1 Number and rate of unique adult male alleged offenders processed by police
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 3,221 Aboriginal men were processed by police. This represents a rate of 1,213.8 per 10,000 Aboriginal men.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
In 2024-25, 185 more Aboriginal men were processed by police than in 2023–24. This means that the rate has increased by 36.6 per 10,000 Aboriginal men.
There were 757 more Aboriginal men processed by police in 2024-25 than in 2015–16. This means that the rate has increased by 11.6 per 10,000 Aboriginal men since 2015-16.
The increasing number and rate of Aboriginal men being processed by police means this measure is declining
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 49,870 non-Aboriginal men were processed by police. This represents a rate of 186.0 per 10,000 non-Aboriginal men.
There were 2,541 more non-Aboriginal men processed by police in 2024-25 than in 2023–24. However, the number was 1,144 lower in 2024-25 than in 2015–16.
In 2024-25, Aboriginal men were 6.5 times more likely to be processed by police than their non-Aboriginal peers. Over time this overrepresentation has been getting worse. In 2015-16 Aboriginal men were 5.4 times more likely to be processed by police.
Measure 15.3.2 Average daily number and rate of Aboriginal men under corrections supervision in prison and community corrections
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, there were 651 Aboriginal men under community-based corrections supervision per day on average. This represents 245.3 per 10,000 Aboriginal men.
In 2024–25, there were 761 Aboriginal men in prison per day on average. This represents a rate of 286.8 per 10,000 Aboriginal men.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
There were 77 fewer Aboriginal men under community-based corrections supervision per day on average in 2024-25 than in 2023–24. This means that the rate has decreased by 37.0 Aboriginal men per 10,000. Since 2015–16, the number of Aboriginal men under community-based corrections supervision per day on average has increased by 1. However, that represents a reduction in the rate per 10,000 of 71.8.
There was 1 more Aboriginal man under in prison per day on average in 2024-25 than in 2023-24. However, this represents a decrease in the rate per 10,000 of 7.9. Compared with 2015–16, there were 298 more Aboriginal men under corrections supervision in prison per day on average in 2024-25. This represents an increase in the rate per 10,000 of 60.9.
The short- and long-term decreases in the rate of community-based corrections supervision is an improvement. However, the long-term increases in the rate of corrections supervision shows declining results.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, there were 6,633 non-Aboriginal men under community-based corrections supervision per day on average. This represents 24.7 per 10,000 non-Aboriginal men. In 2024–25, there were 4,872 non-Aboriginal men under corrections supervision in prison per day. This represents a rate of 18.2 per 10,000 non-Aboriginal men.
Over the long term the number and rate of non-Aboriginal men in both community-based corrections supervision and in prison have been decreasing.
Meanwhile, in 2024-25, Aboriginal men were 9.9 times more likely to be under community-based corrections supervision and 15.8 times more likely to be in prison than their non-Aboriginal peers. For both community-based and prison corrections supervision the overrepresentation of Aboriginal men has been getting worse. In 2015-16 Aboriginal men were 7.2 times more likely to be in community-based correction supervision and 9.8 times more likely to be in prison compared with their non-Aboriginal peers.
Aboriginal Justice Indicators Dashboard
SDRF enabler 4: Transfer power and resources to community
A re-developed version of the Aboriginal Justice Indicators Dashboard was published online in December 2025
The product has existed since 2018 but only contained data up to 2021 due to extensive manual work required to update it. As such, an opportunity arose to re-develop the Dashboard with more comprehensive, accessible, and narrative-driven content. The core aims of the re-developed Dashboard were to:
- Make data provision more regular and accessible to Aboriginal people in line with the Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja (Aboriginal Justice Agreement) outcome ‘increased Aboriginal community ownership and access to data’ and self-determination principles more broadly
- Provide a transparent and publicly shared way to regularly monitor goals of Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja and Wirkara Kulpa
- Provide an accessible resource with quantitative evidence on criminal justice system outcomes for Aboriginal people, better aligning information available to internal government stakeholders with what is available to all Victorians
Expansion of the Dashboard indicators were informed by historical and recent consultation with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, the Aboriginal Justice Agreement Phase 4 indicators, the Wirkara Kulpa Indicators, consultation with the Koori Justice Unit (including Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee Executive Officers), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crime Data Needs Community Consultation (2020) findings, frequent Aboriginal justice data requests received by the CSA team, and consultation with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus.
Measure 15.3.3 Proportion of men who return to prison under sentence within two years of release
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 265 Aboriginal men returned to prison within two years of release. This represents 45.8 per cent of all Aboriginal men released from prison.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
There were 37 fewer Aboriginal men are returning to prison within two years of release in 2024-25 than in 2023-24. Eighty more Aboriginal men returned to prison within two years of release in 2024-25 than in 2015-16. This means that since 2015–16 there are 10 percentage point less Aboriginal men returning to prison after release. This means that results for this measure are improving.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 1,321 non-Aboriginal men returned to prison within two years of release. This represents 36.2 per cent of all non-Aboriginal men released from prison. Aboriginal men are 1.3 times as likely to return to prison within two years of release than their non-Aboriginal peers. Over the long term this trend has remained steady with Aboriginal men 1.3 times as likely to return to prison within two years of release for most years since 2015-16.
Measure 15.3.4 Proportion of men in prison on remand
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 338 of the 761 Aboriginal men in prison were on remand. This represented 44.4 per cent of all Aboriginal men in prison. Aboriginal men in prison on remand represented 6.0 per cent of all men in prison.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
There were 9 more Aboriginal men in prison on remand in 2024-25 than in 2023-24. This means that the percentage of Aboriginal men in prison on remand has increased by 1 percentage point since 2023–24.
There were 198 more Aboriginal men in prison on remand in 2024-25 than in 2015-16. This means that the percentage of Aboriginal men in prison on remand has increased by 14.2 percentage points since 2015–16. The percentage of Aboriginal men in prison on remand compared with the population of all men in prison has risen by 3.6 percentage points since 2015–16.
The increasing number and percentage of Aboriginal men in prison on remand means that results for this measure are declining
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 1,714 of the 4,872 non-Aboriginal men in prison were on remand. This represented 35.2 per cent of all non-Aboriginal men in prison. The proportion of non-Aboriginal men in prison on remand has increased by 9.9 percentage points since 2015–16.
Goal 15 – Victorian Government Investment and Action
The key Aboriginal Governance Forum for realising outcomes in this Domain is the Aboriginal Justice Forum.
Aboriginal Justice Agreement
The Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) is Victoria’s primary strategy for addressing Aboriginal overrepresentation and delivering improved justice outcomes for Aboriginal communities. Under the 25-year partnership, the AJA has continuously sought to drive systemic change by embedding self-determination in its governance practices and through the implementation of AJA initiatives.
The key governance structures of the AJA include: the Aboriginal Justice Caucus (AJC), Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee’s (RAJAC), Local Aboriginal Justice Action Committee’s (LAJAC), the Aboriginal Justice Forum (AJF) and Collaborative Working Groups (CWGs). These structures are established to facilitate self-determination, collaborative development, and a problem-solving approach, and ensure that the voices and experiences of Aboriginal communities across the State are considered across the justice system.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus
The driving committee of the AJA partnership is the Aboriginal Justice Caucus - a self-determining body that brings together state-wide representation and leadership from the Victorian Aboriginal community. The AJC’s membership comprises the nine Chairs of the Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee’s and includes representatives from relevant statewide Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and statewide Aboriginal Justice programs. The purpose of the AJC is to act as the key conduit between the Aboriginal community and the justice system. It leads advocacy, holds government accountable to its commitments, and drives continuous change to address the drivers of offending as well as system and programmatic reform within the criminal justice system.
The AJC meet up to 11 times per year, through a mix of in-person and online meetings.
Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee
Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees (RAJAC’s) are partnership governance structures embedded in nine regions of Victoria and are instrumental in maintaining strong partnerships between Aboriginal communities and justice agencies. RAJACs develop and implement regional justice action plans to respond to regional issues, and support implementation the AJA on the ground. RAJACs also play an important role in building community participation and involvement in AJA initiatives, advocating for fit for purpose programs and services aimed at improving justice outcomes, providing advice and expertise in the development and implementation of place-based initiatives, and ensuring regional needs and issues are raised and responded to via the AJF.
There are nine RAJAC’s across the State and each RAJAC is supported by a full-time RAJAC Executive Officer employed by the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) who is responsible for day-to-day management and planning for the committee.
The nine RAJAC regions are: Barwon South-West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee, Eastern Metropolitan, Northern Metropolitan, Southern Metropolitan, and Western Metropolitan
A key responsibility of the RAJACs is to lead the grants process that allocates funding provided through the RAJAC Implementation Fund (RIF), established to support one or two projects over four years up to the value of $131,111 per annum, per region. The RAJAC Implementation Fund is delivered in the form of grant funding to Aboriginal community organisations, to support local self-determined programs in alignment with regional plans (RAJAC Action Plans).
In 2025, the RIF provided over $1 million to support Aboriginal-led programs throughout Victoria, including:
- Youth Diversion Case Manager Program delivered by the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) in the Gippsland region
- Wurk Wanik (Country Path) delivered by the Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service in the Gippsland region
- Barreng Moorop - Youth Diversion and Prevention Program expansion delivered by VACCA in the Northern Metropolitan region
- Yallum Yallum Elders and Respected Persons Council delivered by Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative, in the Grampians region
- Sports based leadership program delivered by Bunurong Sports Club (auspice VACSAL), in the Southern Metropolitan region
- Deadly Cultural Camps and Life Skills Development and Education Program delivered by VACCA in the Eastern Metropolitan region
- Connecting Young Mob Program delivered by Victorian Aboriginal Health Service in the Western Metropolitan region
- Cultural Response Program delivered by Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative in the Loddon Mallee region
- Yulwa Project delivered by Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, in the Hume region
- Koori Youth Council Supports delivered by the Koori Youth Council, in the Barwon South-West region
Youth Justice
Wirkara Kulpa – Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy
Wirkara Kulpa, Victoria’s first Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy, has continued efforts to address the over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in Victoria’s youth justice system. Wirkara Kulpa is a key initiative of Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja – Aboriginal Justice Agreement 4 and the key driver of response to the Commission for Children and Young People’s 2022 report ‘Our youth, our way: Inquiry into the over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in the Victorian youth justice system’.
The 2025-26 Budget provided $8.327 million in support over 3 years to continue Wirkara Kulpa actions as part of the Supporting a safe and effective Youth Justice system and Community Safety Package initiatives. This includes funding for expanding the Aboriginal Youth Justice Hubs initiative and Family Centred Program, maintaining core community program roles across several funded agencies, re-establishing Aboriginal Case Management Review Panels, and the implementation of relevant components of the Youth Justice Act 2024.
The 2024–25 Budget provided continued funding for Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service’s Balit Ngulu Aboriginal youth legal service in Shepparton and Melbourne.
Wirkara Kulpa Performance Framework
The Wirkara Kulpa Performance Framework (the framework) seeks to measure the outcomes and impact of Wirkara Kulpa, Victoria’s first Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy, as a key action under Tranche 1. The framework will also increase transparency and set justice-related targets and accountability measures to improve Aboriginal children and young people’s outcomes. The framework will provide comprehensive data about the experiences of Aboriginal children and young people.
To respect Aboriginal self-determination of key decision making and advice for framework development, a Project Governance Committee (PGC) was established and made up of self-nominated Aboriginal Justice Caucus and Aboriginal Youth Collaborative Working Group members. The PGC participated in workshops and one-on-one engagements focussed on advising on the scope, measures and indicators, methods and process for endorsement of the framework. The Aboriginal Youth Collaborative Working Group (Youth CWG) will guide implementation to ensure the Wirkara Kulpa Performance Framework best meets Aboriginal Community priorities.
The framework received endorsement from the Aboriginal Youth CWG and Aboriginal Justice Caucus in late 2024. The framework strengthens accountability towards achieving outcomes within Wirkara Kulpa and furthered transparency with Aboriginal stakeholders. The framework is now being implemented and will set justice-related targets and accountability measures to improve Aboriginal children and young people’s outcomes, under guidance from the Aboriginal Youth Collaborative Working Group.
The Wirkara Kulpa Performance Framework will be reported annually, with the development of the first annual report underway.
AJA Community Grants
The Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) Community Grants Program provides funding to enable the delivery of Aboriginal-led solutions to improve Aboriginal justice outcomes. Approximately 98 per cent of funding committed under the AJA is provided to Aboriginal Community Organisations. This represents a deliberate transfer of resources to Aboriginal organisations to lead the design and implementation of region-specific work tailored to the needs of the Aboriginal community.
The guiding policy of the Community Grants Programs is the Koori Justice Unit Grants Management Framework, which is designed to ensure that AJA grant funding decisions, and the monitoring and evaluation of AJA funded initiatives, is conducted and reported back through AJA community governance structures, including the AJC and RAJAC’s. The Grants Management Framework ensures Aboriginal community members play the leading role in determining how AJA funds are prioritised and allocated, and delegates decision making thresholds to the AJC and RAJACs.
In 2025-26, DJCS will administer approximately $70 million in community grants funding (both Commonwealth and State) to improve Aboriginal justice outcomes – this is more than a three-fold increase from the approximately $20 million in AJA grants in 2021-22.
The AJA Community Grants Program enabled Aboriginal Community Organisations to deliver over 100 grant initiatives – which included a diverse range of self-determined programs that promote healing, cultural identity and create positive pathways that divert Aboriginal people from the justice system. The AJA Community Grants Program recognises that Victorian Aboriginal communities are best placed to design and deliver initiatives that effectively engage Aboriginal people and achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.
Maintaining investment in effective Aboriginal community-based solutions to justice overrepresentation aligns with and upholds, government’s commitment to the AJA and self-determination– including by transferring resources to Aboriginal organisations.
Apology to First Peoples and commitment to change
Former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police’s apology to First Peoples and Statement of Commitment
On 8 May 2023, former Chief Commissioner Shane Patton gave evidence before the Yoorrook Justice Commission(opens in a new window) in relation to historical and current interactions between Victoria Police and the Aboriginal community.
The former Chief Commissioner issued a formal and unreserved apology to the Aboriginal community on behalf of Victoria Police for the police actions that have caused or contributed to the trauma experienced by so many Aboriginal families in Victoria.
He committed to ensuring that real change flows from the apology and is doing so through a Statement of Commitment that commits Victoria Police to delivering 79 actions by the end of 2025 in relation to:
- Monitoring and accountability
- Cultural competence and human rights capability
- Human rights and cultural rights compliance.
On 17 December 2025, all 79 Statement of Commitment actions were formally acquitted by the Victoria Police First Peoples Committee. This achievement sets a solid foundation for Victoria Police to build on and continue their important work in partnership with Aboriginal community members and organisations.
For more information about the commitments, visit www.police.vic.gov.au/statement-commitment(opens in a new window).
Victoria Police Aboriginal Portfolio Reference Group (APRG)
The APRG provides a governance structure for embedding self-determination and oversees the development and implementation of policies and programs designed to meet Victoria Police’s commitments and reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal Victorians in the justice system.
Victoria Police is committed to continuing collaboration with external partners to strengthen relationships with the Aboriginal community across the state.
To support and embed self-determination, Victoria Police has implemented the following initiatives in consultation with the APRG:
- Revising custodial health services to ensure they are culturally appropriate, safe and align with Australian Health Care standards, contributing to the quality of care and health outcomes for Aboriginal people who are in police care or custody.
- Seeking and receiving feedback on the implementation of the Youth Justice Act 2024 – relating to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility and a new provision (section 68) for police to take 10- and 11-year-old children into care and control for the purpose of transporting them.
- Developing the next Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Inclusion Action Plan.
- Commissioning an independent operational review of the Aboriginal Youth Cautioning Program (AYCP) and receiving a review report for action.
- Creating five Aboriginal Youth Cautioning Support Officer positions to support the AYCP Program expansion.
- Conducting a review of the Victoria Police Manual Human Rights Standards and Human Rights Practice Guide.
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