Andrew Jackomos, the inaugural Victorian Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, will present a lecture entitled “Greek-Aboriginal Connection”, at the Greek Centre, on Thursday 30 November, as a part of the 120th anniversary celebrations of the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Andrew will take a close look at the links and similarities between the Aboriginal and Greek communities. During the course of his lecture he will speak of his father's contribution towards Aboriginal justice in Victoria.

He is still the only independent Commissioner nationally appointed to advocate specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Andrew is justly proud of his Aboriginal and Greek heritage. His connections to country are second generation Kastellorizo and 3000 generations Yorta Yorta/Gunditjmara. Andrew is the son of Alick (deceased) and Merle, two nationally acclaimed advocates for Indigenous rights.

As Commissioner, he is responsible for advocating for and overseeing the provision of state government services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, particularly the most vulnerable in the areas of child protection and youth justice.

Andrew completed two nationally landmark inquiries in 2016 ‘Always was Always will be Koori children’ an inquiry into the Victorian child protection system and interaction with the lives of close to 1000 Koori children across Victoria and ‘In the child’s best interests’ inquiry into the child protection system’s compliance with the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle.

For the previous 13 years Andrew was an executive officer in the Victorian Department of Justice and led development of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement and establishment of the Aboriginal Justice Forum and network of Victorian Koori Courts across the Children’s, Magistrate’s and County Courts. In 2006 Andrew was awarded the Public Service Medal and admitted as a Victorian Fellow with the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA). In 2013, he was appointed as an IPAA National Fellow.

When: Thursday 30 November, 7:00pm
Where: Greek Centre (Delphi Bank Mez, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne)
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