South-East Monash Legal Service strongly supports Treaty in Victoria as a vital step toward healing, justice, and self-determination.
South-East Monash Legal Service was founded in 1973 to promote access to justice, fairness, and equality for our community in Melbourne’s southeast. For more than fifty years, our work has been grounded in the belief that every person deserves to be heard, supported, and empowered to exercise their rights. We strongly believe that justice cannot be achieved without truth-telling, accountability, and the amplification of First Nations voices.
We pledge our genuine and unconditional support for the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and its leadership in advancing Treaty.
As part of this pledge, we are committed to:
- Collaborating with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, including VALS, Djirra, and the First Peoples’ Assembly, to ensure our legal and community work reflects the voices, priorities, and aspirations of First Peoples.
- Educating our staff, students, and community about the Treaty process, First Peoples’ histories and cultures, and the continuing impact of colonisation.
- Advocating for structural change through law reform, policy submissions, and public communications that advance justice and self-determination.
- Activating our partners and community to support Treaty. We will encourage truth-telling within our own community by amplifying First Peoples’ voices and the messages of community-controlled organisations through our website, social media, newsletters, and public statements.
We pledge to promote Treaty across our networks, events, and partnerships, and encourage other community legal centres to take similar action.
By working together and following the leadership of First Peoples, we can help build a fairer, more just Victoria: one where Treaty, truth, and self-determination are lived realities for generations to come.
Information about Friends of Treaty is available on the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria website.
