Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers (ACLOs) play a pivotal role as liaison between the Victorian Aboriginal community and Victoria Police.
They are community representatives within the organisation. Victoria Police currently has a state-wide ACLO workforce of 17, located in both regional and metropolitan areas. The ACLO role has proven capability to assist police to provide effective service delivery and positively influence perceptions of community safety for Aboriginal Victorians.
The ACLO Program was implemented in 2005 to address Recommendation 231 of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC).
Aunty Eva-Jo
Aunty Eva-Jo has lived in Melbourne since 1969 after being removed from her family in Swan Hill and taken to Allambie Reception Centre. She was institutionalised for 13 years.
From these beginnings, Aunty Eva-Jo has committed to helping Stolen Generations survivors. From her induction onto the Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2022, she is described as ‘an emotional healer and inspirational storyteller’.
Aunty Eva-Jo has worked with Aboriginal communities for nearly 40 years to empower the lives of Aboriginal people. Victoria Police was honoured to secure the services of Aunty Eva-Jo as an ACLO in 2024.
I look at the role differently to other ACLOs, for me it’s grassroots. I’m heavily involved in my community and come from a strong family line. It’s also my history. I’ve worked across justice, child protection, health and education. My passion will always be stolen generation survivors. I build strong relationships with my community and Victoria Police to help people get past the uniform. There are layers of trauma with the uniform that go back generations. My role is to yarn with and be in community to build strong foundations. Showing people there’s someone inside the police uniform: somebody’s father, brother or sister. I explain to community what the police can help them with. Community and police call me when they require assistance for various matters. I assist police and community with outstanding warrants, help our women and community by empowering them to report family violence. Previously, they were frightened their partners would be sent to jail, now they feel more confident to report. I believe you make change one person at a time. You meet one good police officer and that changes your perception. Being an ACLO is also fun, I assist in organising basketball, golf and cricket matches, normal things with police to show they’re human. I also like to invite my police members to community events. We’re finding community members often remember police out of their uniforms. That’s due to the fun community activities we organise that show they’re people.
Aunty Eva-Jo Edwards
Proud Bunerong/Boonwurrung/Bunurong, Yorta Yorta and Mutti Mutti woman
Aboriginal Complaints Support Officer
Since the Aboriginal Complaints Support Officer (ACSO) position in Professional Standards was established in October 2023, Victoria Police has strengthened the support available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the complaints process. The ACSO helps people understand and navigate the complaints system, provides specialist advice on complaint handling and investigations, and promotes culturally safe and responsive practices.
The role also works closely with Aboriginal communities and stakeholder groups to better understand people’s experiences, identify opportunities for improvement, and help ensure the complaints process is culturally safe and reflective of community expectations.
This dedicated role has been an important step towards building trust and improving the experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who engage with the police complaints system.
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