Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) provides criminal, civil and family legal aid to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Services include: -Legal advice, assistance and representation in Criminal, Civil and Family Law matters. -24 hours 7 days per week, on call response by Client Service Officers for Victoria Police matters involving Koori clients taken into custody. -Community Legal Education Programs to increase the community’s knowledge of their rights and obligations before the law. -Conducting research and collecting data on legal trends that effect Kooris. -Pursuing and promoting law reform to address the disadvantage suffered by Victoria’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community within the legal and justice systems. -Pursuing measures that aim to reduce the rate of imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. -Increasing public awareness and understanding of the problems faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community within the legal and justice system. -Providing employment, training and career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.