Elders in law move

By Tania Martin
KOORI leaders from across the state converged on Kalorama last week to discuss the need for the Victorian legal system to better support Aboriginal elders.
Victorian Parliamentary Justice Secretary Brian Tee officially opened the forum last Wednesday 8 April at the Country Place Convention Centre.
Mr Tee said the day was a great opportunity for the Government to get feedback in a bid to make better justice outcomes available for indigenous communities.
“This event is about harnessing the wisdom of Aboriginal elders so we can address indigenous over-representation in the justice system,” he said.
Mr Tee said Aboriginals represent more than .5 per cent of Victoria’s population and almost a third of those end up in jail.
He said the statistics show 12 per cent of Koori people end up in prison or in trouble with the law.
Mr Tee said this showed the need for better collusion between Koori elders and the justice system to help prevent this from increasing any further.
“This is an unacceptable situation and we recognise the best policies are built from the ground up, which is why we are seeking the advice of local community leaders from across the state,” Mr Tee said.
Wurundjeri elder Aunty Zeta Thomson works with Koori youths in detention centres and said it was vital to form links between the Aboriginal communities across the state.
Ms Thomson said the forum was also a way of passing the knowledge onto a new generation of elders.
“We can’t go on forever and now is the time we need to encourage the younger ones to follow in our footsteps,” she said.
Ms Thomson said it was also a great opportunity to tell the Government about the gaps that needed filling between the legal system and Koori communities.
Mr Tee said the forum was a great chance to discuss the elders’ vision for the future and to map a way forward.
“This event was about taking stock of where we are, where we’re going and how we will get there by getting guidance on each of these questions,” he said. “The Government doesn’t have all the answers and this (the forum) is a great way to work together on finding a solution.”
Mr Tee said the elders played a pivotal role in keeping young Koori youths on the straight and narrow.
He said the current economical and job climate would have a significant impact on this role.
“We want to find a way to help elders help their communities through this difficult period,” he said.