Unfinished business: Koori women and the justice system Page 15

Executive summary 11

Department of Human Services

23. That Youth Justice consult with Regional

Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees
and Local Aboriginal Justice Action
Committees to develop rapid response case
conferencing/care teams for young Koori
women at the cautioning, early offence and
pre-court stages. These should link the
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Support
Link, Victoria Police Aboriginal Liaison
Officers Program and Aboriginal Community
Liaison Officers, Koori Education Support
Officers, Koori Youth Justice Workers, Child
First, family violence and health workers (as
appropriate) and provide supports through a
single care plan.

24. Noting the need for contact with the justice

system to trigger provision of intensive
family support and other early interventions
for young Koories, that the pilot program
established by the Victorian Aboriginal Legal
Service, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care
Association and Jesuit Social Services be
put on a sustainable footing, with a view to
this initiative being made available in other
areas of Victoria so that young Koori women
notified to the Victorian Aboriginal Legal
Services by the D24 referral system may
gain access to appropriate supports.

25. Noting that few Koori women have accessed

the Restart Housing project that the
Department of Human Services, Mission
Australia and Melbourne City Mission work
with work with members of the Aboriginal
Justice Forum to:

a. enhance the cultural safety of the Restart

Project so that Koori women are better
able to access this comprehensive post-
release housing option

b. develop a Koori-based Restart model

to be delivered in partnership with an
Aboriginal controlled organisation and
funded as a homelessness initiative

c. and that, Corrections Victoria negotiate

and resource nomination rights for Koori
women exiting prison into these projects,
and provide brokerage funds to support
these placements.

Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and
Young People

26. Noting the particular vulnerability of young

Koori women leaving care who are at risk
of entering prison, that the Commissioner
for Aboriginal Children and Young People
specifically address post care and transition
support for those in contact with the justice
system, in the Five year plan for Aboriginal
children in out-of-home care. This should
include the targeting of additional resources
via the Transitioning from Out-of-home care:
Support for Aboriginal young people Initiative.

27. Noting that 80 per cent of Koori women

prisoners have children, that the
Commissioner for Aboriginal Children
and Young People, in overseeing the
development of the Five year plan for
Aboriginal children in out-of-home care
specifically identify and address the needs
of Koori children with mothers in prison.
This should include a focus on targeted
supports for mothers and children in these
circumstances, including education, health,
parenting and life skills supports.

Sentencing Advisory Council

28. That the Sentencing Advisory Council

undertake research on patterns of parole
conditions and breach rates for Koori women.

Victorian Auditor General

29. That the Victorian Auditor-General's Office

undertake an audit of Koori women's
programs in Tarrengower and Dame
Phyllis Frost Centre, including post release
support to complement the planned audit of
Transition Support for Prisoners in 201415.