Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Southern Metropolitan
Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee
With an Aboriginal population of 7,264 the Southern Metropolitan region accounts for approximately 15% of Victoria’s total Aboriginal population.
A RAJAC Executive Officer works across the region’s ten Local Government Areas: Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip and Stonnington.
A full range of justice services are offered from Justice Service Centres located in Moorabbin, Rosebud, Frankston, and Dandenong.
You can contact the Southern Metro RAJAC Executive Officer, Aimee Jones.
Ph: 0437 101 242
E: Aimee.Jones@justice.vic.gov.au
Marion Hansen (Chairperson)
Marion is a proud Kamilaroi woman born in Moree NSW.
Marion has dedicated her life to the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ human rights, health and wellbeing, and taken up various roles across the Aboriginal community sector in Victoria for over 50 years.
Beginning in Aboriginal health, Marion was heavily involved in the establishment of residential rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people. A founding member of Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation (Ngwala Willumbong), Marion has served as a Director and Chairperson, established the Winja Ulupna Women’s Recovery Centre and managed Galiamble Men’s Recovery Centre.
In the early 1990s Marion was elected to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and served four terms as Regional Councillor, Chairperson, and Victorian Commissioner. As ATSIC Victorian Commissioner, Marion worked across the state, nationally and internationally, and represented Aboriginal people at the United Nations (UN) in New York and Geneva.
Through this role, Marion became a signatory to the first Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) in 2000, and has been a signatory to all subsequent phases of the Agreement as the Chairperson of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (RAJAC).
Marion has taken a lead role in advocating for the prevention of family violence in Aboriginal communities. During her tenure at ATSIC, Marion secured funding to establish Djirra (initially known as the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service) which was established in 2000 and launched in 2002. Marion has served as Djirra’s Chairperson for over twenty years.
Marion continues to provide influential leadership and advocate for better outcomes for Aboriginal people. She chaired the Caucus Working Group on Family Violence, established following the 2016 Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence, to promote self-determination and cultural safety in the Victorian justice system’s response to family violence. In 2019, she was appointed to the Youth Parole Board of Victoria.
Marion continues to be active for community through her roles on committees and boards. For her local community, she has been a member of the Dandenong & Districts Aborigines Co-operative Ltd for more than 30 years and was elected to its board in 2021.
Marion represented the AJC on various partnership forums including Dhelk Dja, and Ngarweeyan Maar-oo.
Marion is a highly regarded Elder, who enables and promotes self-determination for the Aboriginal community. A Victorian Justice Award recipient and a winner of a 3CR Community Award, she was awarded the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula NAIDOC Elders Award in 2020 for her leadership and advocacy work, and was inducted on the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2022 for her ongoing work, commitment and strength.