Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

Racism in the criminal legal system: standing up for justice.

This episode of Know Your Right features guests Ali Besiroglu and Flick Chaffer-Smith.

Ali is the Director of Legal Services at the VALS. He worked at VALS for 7 years in criminal and civil law before moving to Robinson Gill, where he practised in civil litigation against the State of Victoria. Ali has represented many First Nations families in coronial inquests into deaths in custody. He is a current Board Member of the Eastern Community Legal Centre and received the LIV’s Stephen Myall award in 2024 for outstanding contribution to social justice.

Flick Chafer-Smith is a proud Ngarrindjeri artist from South Australia currently based in Naarm. Flick works as the First Peoples Arts Mentor at The Torch, thru this role Flick supports First Nations women in Victorian prisons. She began painting in early 2017. Flick was always searching for her peace and quiet and she found it within her art practice. Painting is a way for Flick to connect with her family. Flick often depicts animals and native vegetation remembered from her multiple trips across the Nullarbor as a child.

Know Your Rights episodes are featured every week. All episodes were recorded on Wurundjeri Country, Naarm in 2025 and are available on all streaming platforms here → https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/resources/know-your-rights-podcasts/

National Reconciliation Week takes place 27 May to 3 June.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.

The theme reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing and explaining for far too long.

Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us.

Tuesday 26 May marks National Sorry Day across Australia.

This day commemorates the Stolen Generations, the thousands of First Peoples children forcibly removed from their families and communities by state and federal governments from the 1800s to the 1970s.

This day also marks the anniversary of the tabling of ‘Bringing Them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families’ in the Australian Parliament in 1997.

While important developments have taken place to support the Stolen Generations in Victoria, the Yoorrook Justice Commission reminds us that the trauma and harm of child removal policies have had lifelong impacts and is a source of ongoing intergenerational trauma for First Peoples.

National Sorry Day is an opportunity for every Victorian to acknowledge these truths in our state and reflect on the part we can all play in the healing process for First Peoples in Victoria and beyond.

Racism in sport: standing up against discrimination in sport.

This episode of Know Your Right features guests Barry Judd and Anita North.

Professor Barry Judd is a distinguished academic and accomplished leader, currently holding the positions of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) and Professor of Indigenous Studies in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne. His research expertise lies in Australian race relations in Australian sports and interdisciplinary research methods in Indigenous Studies and Australian history.

Anita North is a Gunditjmara, Mutti Mutti woman with Jadwajarli & TSI bloodlines. She is a mother of 3 and Co-Founder & Vice President of the Naarm Angels Netball Club. Anita's coaching and playing history spans across the 40 years and has travelled Australia playing sport. Anita is often found on a Wednesday night and Saturday morning coaching her Senior and Junior teams. Anita is a First Nations Family Therapist and is passionate about working with young mob by using the vehicle which is 'SPORT'. Aunty Lesley always say's Naarm Angels isn't just a club.

Know Your Rights episodes will be featured every week. All episodes were recorded on Wurundjeri Country, Naarm in 2025 and are available on all streaming platforms here → https://lnkd.in/gdNPZxGY

Victorian Law Week (May 18–24) is a week to learn more about the law and what it means for Victorians. ⚖️

This week helps people to understand their rights, find answers to questions, know what help is available and learn how our legal system works.

More than 100 events take place across metro and regional Victoria, both online and in-person. Visit the Victorian Law Week website to learn more → https://www.viclawweek.org.au/

International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination. 🏳️‍🌈

May 17 marks the date in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the WHO Classification of Diseases.

Although over three decades later, LGBTQIA+ communities still face discrimination.

The Commission stands with these communities, recognising there is still work to do to ensure equality and belonging in Victoria.

Have you experienced discrimination or hate speech? Visit the link to learn more about the process of making a complaint → https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/complaints/

‘Your health your rights- standing up against racism in healthcare’.
This episode of Know Your Right features guests Yin Paradies and Lisa Briggs. 🎤

Professor Yin Paradies is a Wakaya man and Chair in Race Relations at Deakin University where he conducts research on topics such as racism, anti-racism, cultural safety, Indigenous knowledges and decolonisation. He has authored 270 publications (cited over 22,000 times), been awarded grants worth $58 million, and is an invited reviewer for more than 130 journals.

Lisa Briggs is a proud Gunditjmara women from the western district of Victoria with connections to Framlingham and Lake Condah Mission. Lisa has lived off country in Naarm Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung country, is a Aboriginal Health Worker by trade and holds a Master of Public Health (still studying a Master in Health Economic). Lisa has worked in Public Policy for over 30 years particularly in the health and wellbeing industry representing the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector at national, state, regional and local levels.

Know Your Rights episodes will be featured every Wednesday. All episodes were recorded on Wurundjeri Country, Naarm in 2025 and are available on all streaming platforms here → https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/resources/know-your-rights-podcasts/