The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner Partners with Kinaway!
Overview of the Partner’s business
The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner (VLSB+C) is the regulator of the Victorian legal profession. We license lawyers and oversee service standards and conduct. This includes handling complaints about lawyers, investigating poor conduct and overseeing management of trust accounts. We are also the stewards of the public purpose and fidelity funds and administer these to support legal regulation and access to justice in Victoria.
Engagement with the Indigenous sector & actions toward reconciliation
The VLSB+C actively engages with various First Nations organisations and is working towards reconciliation. Notably, we submitted our first Reconciliation Action Plan (Reflect RAP ) to Reconciliation Australia in March 2024, which was endorsed in April 2024. The Reflect RAP outlined 47 actionable steps to promote meaningful reconciliation, and implementation was completed recently, with our Innovate RAP currently being developed.
To foster understanding of Australia’s history and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we have incorporated First Nations Truth Telling training sessions through the Aboriginal Advancement League as part of our onboarding process for all staff.
Under our Access to Justice work, we proudly provide annual funding to Djirra, an Aboriginal family violence and prevention legal service. This funding supports the development of First Nations cultural safety training for the legal sector. Additionally, we provide funding to the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), enabling it to offer comprehensive legal assistance and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights.
Furthermore, through our Change Grants scheme, we have allocated funding to various organisations, including the Arts Law Centre of Australia, The Torch Project, and WEstjustice, further supporting Indigenous initiatives.
Why did the Partner sign up with Kinaway?
As an independent statutory authority, collaboration and relationships are central to our work. When consulting and developing our Reflect RAP, our main aim was to reflect on our existing relationships with, and impact on First Nations stakeholders and recognise the challenges they experience in the Victorian legal system. As the regulator of lawyers, our organisation must be a culturally safe space for everyone.
Part of this process included reflecting on our overall relationships and partnerships. Procurement is an essential function of our business, and we see the opportunity to diversify our supplier base by including more First Nations suppliers to support improved economic and social outcomes.
By partnering with Kinaway, we believe we can better connect with First Nations businesses, including those operating within our regulatory jurisdiction.
What is the Partner’s mission or aim in supporting the Indigenous economy? How will Kinaway member businesses benefit from this partnership?
Our mission is to actively support the Indigenous economy by creating work opportunities for First Nations organisations and ensuring our investments have a meaningful and lasting impact. By increasing our engagement with First Nations suppliers, we aim to enhance our supplier base diversity and contribute to improved economic and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Kinaway member businesses will benefit from this partnership in several ways. First, they will gain access to a more extensive network within the legal and regulatory sectors, opening doors to new contracts and collaborative projects. Second, businesses can expect fair opportunities to compete for contracts, for a range of services. This support not only helps build the capacity of Indigenous businesses but also fosters community development and resilience.
Moreover, through this partnership, we aim to create pathways for professional development and capacity-building initiatives that empower Kinaway members. By working closely with these businesses, we hope to share knowledge and resources, enhancing their skills. visibility and competitiveness in the marketplace.
How does the Partner hope to benefit from their partnership with Kinaway?
We see our partnership with Kinaway as a crucial stepping stone in the implementation of our new RAP. By collaborating with Kinaway, we aim to enhance our understanding of the Indigenous business landscape and ensure our practices align with the values of reconciliation and respect.
One of the primary benefits we anticipate is increased visibility of the VLSB+C as a culturally safe organisation. This visibility is vital for building trust within Indigenous communities and encouraging more individuals and businesses to engage with our services. We believe that by showcasing our commitment to reconciliation and Indigenous procurement, we can attract a broader range of stakeholders and staff who share our vision of a just and equitable legal system.
Additionally, this partnership provides us with the opportunity to work with diverse Victorian businesses, enriching our organisational culture. Engaging with Kinaway member businesses allows us to learn from their experiences, challenges, and successes, which can inform our policies and practices moving forward.
Ultimately, our goal is to create a sustainable framework that supports Indigenous economic development while fulfilling our regulatory responsibilities. By nurturing these relationships, we hope to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable legal landscape in Victoria.
