A new home to support the fight against family violence and sexual assault

Photo (left to right): Victoria Hovane, Devon Cuimara, Ray Lennox and Corina Martin OAM (c) Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.

The Western Australian Family Violence Prevention Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation – more commonly known as Aboriginal Family Legal Services (AFLS) – is celebrating its new Perth-based headquarters with community and project partners.

For almost a decade and a half, AFLS has supported the Indigenous community across WA by aiming to prevent, reduce and respond to incidents of family violence and sexual assault among Indigenous peoples.

AFLS is the largest service provider in Australia under the Family Violence Prevention Legal Service program – assisting seven regions across WA.

These areas include the West Kimberley (Broome), East Kimberley (Kununurra), Gascoyne (Carnarvon), Midwest (Geraldton), Goldfields (Kalgoorlie), Pilbara (Port Hedland) and metropolitan Perth.

This means AFLS’ outreach services extend to over 30 remote townships and Aboriginal communities, highlighting their broad and profound impact.

This new location in Rivervale marks a pivotal moment for the organisation, reinforcing its commitment to supporting Indigenous communities across the state.

The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) backed AFLS by providing $3.3 million in funding to make this permanent base a reality.

Today, the milestone is being celebrated through a ceremony, where the premises will officially be handed over to AFLS on Whadjuk Nyoongar land. This event highlights the significance of the investment and the impact it will have on the lives of First Nations peoples.

AFLS CEO, Corina Martin OAM, said:

Today marks an important chapter in AFLS’ journey to provide a permanent and accessible and culturally safe legal services to our communities. The new office will allow us to strengthen our outreach across the metro area, build our capacity, and continue to support our regional offices and staff with their critical work.

We are deeply grateful to the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation for their support, and we look forward to the future impact this space will have in amplifying our efforts to address family and domestic violence and support those in need.

ILSC Group Chief Executive, Joe Morrison, said AFLS’ new permanent base is essential for the team to continue to provide valuable support to vulnerable community members:

This is more than just a building. It’s a place where the dedicated workers of AFLS come together, unified, in the battle against family violence and sexual assault.

This place will not only support AFLS in their journey, it will also impact generations of Indigenous peoples in the years to come.

I look forward to seeing what the AFLS team will achieve in their new space, and importantly, the outcomes that will benefit the community.

The AFLS team have moved into their new space ready to continue their critical work with continued strength and resources. 

For more information, visit:  https://afls.org.au/