For decades, our industry has contributed to the continued dispossession and oppression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and it’s far past time to make racial equality and justice a reality in this country. As part of our commitment to Pay the Rent, this quarter we have sent $2,022.74 the way of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) in recognition of the extraordinary and tireless work they do in the community.
Due to recent funding cuts, VALS has had to make the difficult decision to put a freeze on new client intakes to deal with their overwhelming demand for legal services. Established in 1973, VALS acts as a bridge between the legal system and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, providing education, research and advocacy around law reform and policy development.
Providing community-controlled and holistic services that promote justice and representation, VALS has had to fight for its rightful place in the legal landscape for far too long. While donations like ours cannot provide VALS with the ongoing stability it needs, every little bit counts and our donations help to support vital community engagement activities and fund human rights test cases.
Still, in 2021, one in four prisoners in this country is Indigenous - that’s 10x the make up of Australia’s population, and Indigenous women have the highest, fastest growing imprisonment rate. We can, and need to, do more. Find out more about how to support VALS’ groundbreaking work here, and if you have a few dollars to spare - this is a great place to start.