Vacro

Based on the song by Paul Kelly, How to Make Gravy, is streaming now. https://lnkd.in/gKUtaVY7

In collaboration with Warriors of Light, Blak Pearl Studio is hosting a Xmas Feast luncheon featuring a FREE roast lunch, gift bags and a market of high-quality donated goods. This lunch is aimed at Elders, their families and communities who reside in or frequent the City of Yarra, but all are welcome to attend. Representatives from services that support the community are also encouraged to attend and celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of the festive season. For more details, please contact Blak Pearl.

Vacro welcomes the publication of the National Review of First Nations Health Care in Prisons (https://lnkd.in/gtdvi_Ns). Its findings have been known for years; its recommendations advocated for repeatedly and consistently by families whose loved ones have died in custody, coronial inquests, sector advocates, and community service organisations. But the Review's language does not place strong enough obligations on the Commonwealth Government to take responsibility for actions only it can take - such as expanding Medicare and PBS access to meet the healthcare needs of people in prison. The joint Health Ministers' response (https://lnkd.in/gCv5ExEV) does not make solid commitments and we remain deeply concerned for the healthcare outcomes of our participants and other people in prison, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody. For example, just this month the Victorian Coroner’s Court has handed down its findings in the tragic death of Michael Suckling, a proud Aboriginal man who died at the privately-run Ravenhall Prison in 2021 (https://lnkd.in/gHnawAMy). Coroner Peterson found significant failings with the privately-run healthcare provider’s care of Michael. We support the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service in its call for the end of the use of private healthcare providers in Victorian prisons, and for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to deliver healthcare for Aboriginal people (https://lnkd.in/gGCVyvE8). Every person in prison has the right to the receive the same standard of healthcare as the would in the community, and Aboriginal people have the right to culturally appropriate healthcare.

Check out our 2023-24 Annual Report and join us in reflecting on our accomplishments! Thanks to our supporters, we are able to achieve our goals. There is still time to support our work and to join us in creating stronger communities. https://ow.ly/c3is50Ut6TN

In this edition of Paper Chained, friend of Vacro, Dwayne A. writes about us in his piece, “Finding a Home: Vacro”. Check it out on page 37. https://ow.ly/afLR50Uo1pV

A shout-out to Kent Morris, The Torch, guest speaker at the recent launch of our #RAP! Thank you for being part of this special event!

The Living with Mum program is often touted as an example of the government acquitting recommendations from the Inquiry into Children Affected by Parental Incarceration. But currently and formerly incarcerated women say the mother and baby unit at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre hasn't accepted new residents in years. Instead, women are transferred from the prison to hospital to give birth, where their baby is removed. They return days later to no medical attention or aftercare: https://lnkd.in/gXFv5FMN

Recently, official Treaty negotiations commenced between the Victorian Government and the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria. To learn more, follow the link below: https://lnkd.in/gtpA7KTV

This month The Royal Australasian College of Physicians - a peak body representing more than 30,000 specialists from 33 different specialties across Australia and New Zealand - published a new position statement formally calling for drug decriminalisation, regulated cannabis trials, expanded pill testing and syringe programs, and more medically supervised injecting centres: https://lnkd.in/ginrZb4D We support these calls.

After 18 years inside, Brian knew something had to change when he was released. With the support of one of our ReConnect case managers, and a dog, Brian has confidently returned to his community with purpose. https://lnkd.in/gk7yp4iB