Overview
Historic injustices have contributed to mistrust of police and the justice system amongst some Aboriginal communities. Community-led justice responses are working to address local issues and build greater trust between Elders, community and police.
Measures under Goal 17 have mixed results
Fewer police officers completed Cultural Awareness Training, although 94.7 per cent of all officers had completed the training at the time.
Over the long term the number and proportion of Aboriginal staff members in the justice system have increased.
Unfortunately, data to measure whether Aboriginal people in Victoria feel safer has not been published since 2016.
Closing the Gap – Relevant Outcomes and Targets for Goal 17
The National Agreement does not contain outcomes and targets that align with this VAAF goal. Victoria is pursuing more ambitious and comprehensive goals under the VAAF, which are reported on in this chapter and the Data Dashboard.
Closing the Gap - How Victoria is tracking nationally
Not applicable.
Data Note
The following measures rely on datasets that are infrequently collected. No new data was available at the time of reporting.
- Measure 17.1.2: Proportion of Aboriginal Victorians who feel safe/very safe walking alone at night in local area in the last 12 months
- Measure 17.1.3: Proportion of Aboriginal Victorians who reported being a victim of physical or threatened violence in the last 12 months
Historical data for these measures is available on the First Peoples – State Relations website
17.1 Increase community safety and trust in police and the justice system
Measure 17.1.1 Proportion of police officers who have received Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 3,252 non-VPS Victoria Police employees received Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training. Of those, 704 were recruits, 248 were Protective Service Officers (PSO) and 2,300 were police officers. In 2024–25 94.7 per cent of police officers have received Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
In 2024-25, 3,764 fewer non-VPS Victoria Police employees received Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training than in 2023-24. Of those there were 273 fewer recruits, 607 fewer Protective Service Officers (PSO) and 2,884 fewer police officers. Although the number of officers receiving Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training has decreased nearly all Victoria Police officers have received the training.
Since 2018–19, 1,682 more non-VPS Victoria Police employees received Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training. Of those there were 537 fewer recruits, 72 more Protective Service Officers (PSO) and 2,147 more police officers.
Since 2024 Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training has been mandatory for non-VPS Victoria Police employees. In 2020 15 per cent of non-VPS Victoria Police employees received Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training. As completion rates approach full workforce coverage in 2025, annual completion figures are expected to reduce, noting there will continue to be cohorts temporarily unavailable to undertake the training such as members on long term leave. Part-2 refresher training will commence on 1 July 2026 as an online training package.
With the long-term increase in the number of non-VPS Victoria Police employees receiving Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training this measure is improving.
Measure 17.1.4 Number and proportion of Aboriginal people employed across the justice system
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, there were 233 Aboriginal staff at the Department of Justic and Community Safety, 146 Aboriginal staff at Victoria Police, and 71 Aboriginal staff at Court Services Victoria. This means that 2.2 per cent of staff at the Department of Justic and Community Safety, 0.7 per cent of staff at Victoria Police, and 2.5 per cent of staff at Court Services Victoria were Aboriginal in 2024–25.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
While the number of Aboriginal staff members has increased at all three government bodies the proportion of Aboriginal staff has not changed. Since 2018–19 there were 28 more Aboriginal staff at DJCS, 48 more Aboriginal staff at Victoria Police, and 25 more Aboriginal staff at Court Services Victoria.
Goal 17 – Victorian Government Investment and Action
The key Aboriginal Governance Forum for realising outcomes in this Domain is the Aboriginal Justice Forum.
Aboriginal Engagement Workers
Aboriginal Engagement Workers (AEWs) in Victims Assistance Programs give Aboriginal victims of crime the choice of culturally safe, local support from an Aboriginal person, fostering trust and engagement. Since July 2023, AEWs spend at least one day weekly co-located with an ACCO, strengthening community connections and improving accessibility for Aboriginal victims.
Since July 2023, AEWs have strengthened culturally safe support for Aboriginal victims of crime. Co-location with ACCOs is fully implemented, with the aim of improving accessibility and trust. This model has enhanced engagement with local communities and service providers, ensuring Aboriginal victims receive tailored, culturally responsive assistance across all regions.
Successes include improved cultural safety, stronger community trust, and better collaboration with ACCOs. Challenges remain in recruiting AEWs, ensuring consistent co-location, managing workload and colonial load, and measuring cultural outcomes effectively.
To further achieve this goal, the Victorian Government will seek to strengthen collaboration with ACCOs, embed cultural safety through best-practice guidance, and continue to support the VAP providers to recruit and retain AEWs. DJCS will aim to improve data systems to measure outcomes and secure executive commitment for sustained funding, ensuring long-term success and meaningful impact for Aboriginal communities.
Implementation of new minimum standards for cultural spaces in Victorian prisons
In 2025, Corrections Victoria, in consultation with Aboriginal Justice Caucus, completed a review of cultural spaces across all prisons. The review looked at opportunities for improvement (including accessibility), informed by an audit of all locations, in-depth consultation and research. As a result, new binding system standards for Aboriginal cultural spaces have been implemented for Victorian Prisons. Implementation of these standards remains ongoing.
The review's recommendations and the new minimum standards were shaped by feedback from Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers, several rounds of engagement with the Cultural Review Implementation Subgroup of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, Aboriginal people in prison and residents and staff at Wulgunngo Ngalu Learning Place. This included seven corrections locations, 12 yarning circles and approximately 110 participants. The Aboriginal Justice Caucus endorsed the review report and its recommendations.
The review is complete and implementation of the standards remains ongoing. Senior Champions have been nominated by General Managers (public prisons) to help drive implementation of the standards at their locations. Some of the standards require relationship building with Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees and this work is being paced to support that foundational work and build community trust. Some locations are further progressed with this than others.
To ensure the minimum standards are being implemented as intended, a rapid review of implementation progress will commence in 2026, with the findings reported through to the Aboriginal Justice Caucus.
In-Person Apologies – Stolen Generations Reparations Unit
Government accepted a recommendation from the Stolen Generations Reparations Steering Committee (Steering Committee) to deliver in-person apologies to eligible applicants to the Stolen Generations Reparations Package (Package). The model involves the delivery of an in-person apology by senior government ministers, to eligible applicants of the Package.
The planning and delivery of in-person apologies is undertaken in close partnership with local community organisations and Traditional Owner groups. This ensures that each apology reflects local cultural authority, supports survivor-led decision-making, and strengthens trust in the Package. For the August 2025 apology on Gunaikurnai Country by the Attorney-General to 29 eligible applicants and their support person(s), local leadership selected and/or endorsed all aspects of the in-person apology and were foremost in the delivery of the event.
The SGRU will continue to work with local Aboriginal Traditional Owners and organisations to ensure that the apology is led by local leadership and voices for that region
Local Aboriginal Justice Action Committees
Local Aboriginal Justice Action Committees (LAJAC’s) are set up in regions with large geographical coverage needs, supported by a full-time LAJAC Project Officer employed by DJCS. LAJACs function as a sub-committee to a RAJAC with a focus on operationalising RAJAC Action Plans within a specific geographical sub-area of the wider region.
The work of the LAJAC’s enables justice issues to be raised and resolved locally. LAJAC responsibilities include promoting and nourishing local relationships, enabling linkages and coordinating between the Aboriginal community, justice agencies, local government and community service providers. LAJAC’s bring together local Aboriginal community members, justice agency staff and judicial representatives to develop and inform local responses to Aboriginal justice and community safety issues.
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