Where we are up to
Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer Program
The Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer (ACLO) Program (established in 2005 to address Recommendation 231 of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody), strengthens relationships and facilitates communication between Victoria Police and Aboriginal people across the state. The Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers, more commonly referred to as ACLOs, play a pivotal liaison role for Victoria Police and the Aboriginal community.
The Victoria Police ACLO workforce has expanded to 15 locations in the following metropolitan and regional areas:
- Bairnsdale
- Morwell
- Wodonga
- Shepparton
- Ballarat
- Warrnambool
- Geelong
- Mildura
- Swan Hill
- Echuca/Bendigo
- Footscray
- Northcote
- Dandenong
- Knox
- Horsham.
Police Aboriginal Liaison Officer Program
The Police Aboriginal Liaison (PALO) was implemented to address Recommendation 231 of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. PALOs are considered to develop knowledge and expertise in community networking, community development and liaison. They are expected to perform this liaison role both independently and in partnership with Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers (ACLOs).
As of 31 August 2022, there are 201 PALOs across the state. Numbers have increased since the inception of the state-wide roll-out of the delivery of the Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training (ACAT).
Strengthening of Victoria Police Electronic Referral (VPeR) system is underway with a working group of police and community members established as per Action 18-36.