- Published:
- Monday 28 August 2023 at 11:46 pm
Ashley Morris is a Gunditjmara man, born in Traralgon Victoria. Ashley comes to us from the Children’s Court of Victoria where he was the manager of Koori Services and Programs. In this role he led the development and delivery of the Children’s Court Self Determination plan and effective delivery and expansion of Koori services and programs within the Children’s Court.
Prior to this role he held the position of Koori Services coordinator at the Broadmeadows Children’s Court where he led the development and implementation of the Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Day).
In addition to these roles Ashley has held several positions across the Koori justice sector. This included roles in youth justice, corrections, family violence and criminal law. He ran a number of diversionary programs for Koori young people, case managed offenders on court orders and led the expansion of the Children’s Koori Court to all existing Koori Court locations.
Our First Nations Services directorate facilitates our organisation's commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Victoria, including through our Aboriginal Services Strategy and Reconciliation Action Plan.This plays a significant role in leading the organisation in improving how we deliver legal assistance services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, so that they are culturally appropriate and responsive.
In taking up the role, Ashley will provide strong leadership in, and support for, our work at Victoria Legal Aid. He will be involved in supporting our Aboriginal community engagement officers and our First Nations Staff Network, provide advice and expertise on how we can improve services for First Nations people and lead collaboration work with our First Nations legal service partners. Ashley will bring an important and necessary perspective to our organisation, including our Board and executive team.
We also acknowledge the significant contribution of Lawrence Moser. Lawrence has led First Nations Services through a period of significant change and growth. This has included adapting service delivery and the challenges brought by COVID-19. Lawrence has delivered significant strategic work and support for our involvement with the Yoorrook commission of inquiry as well as securing funding from the Victorian Legal Services Board to support improvements in cultural capability and remand services. Other notable contributions include supporting the establishment of the Lotjpa Independant Legal Service in partnership with Victorian Aboriginal Legal Services, and reforms in relation to Victoria’s bail system, decriminalisation of public drunkenness and minimum age of criminal responsibility.
More information
Read more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment at our organisation.
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