Rotary Melbourne Weekly Club Meeting - 15 February 2023

Guest Speaker Nerita Waight, CEO Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

Topic Indigenous Justice Issues

Time 12.30 for 12.50 -2.00pm

Venue No35 Restaurant Sofitel Hotel on Collins

Price $55 (2Course lunch) / $10 ZOOM Only access

Nerita Waight is a Yorta Yorta and Narrandjeri woman with Taungurung connections.

Nerita is the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. Nerita was first employed at VALS in 2014 as a civil lawyer. Prior to becoming CEO, Nerita had experience across several teams in the organisation including family and children’s law, as well as policy and advocacy.

Nerita has helped expand the work of VALS to meet the needs of Aboriginal communities. Notably establishing Balit Ngulu, a holistic and culturally safe legal service for Aboriginal children. As CEO, Nerita has also overseen the expansion of VALS’ policy and advocacy work, and the establishment of the Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability Practice which has supported clients on several high-profile Aboriginal death in custody cases.

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) was established as a community controlled Co-Operative society in 1973 and provides legal support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria, specialising in Criminal, Family and Civil law. VALS maintains a strong client service focus and act as a bridge between the legal system and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and is actively involved in community education, research and advocacy around law reform and policy development.