The overhaul includes coroners immediately attending the scenes of indigenous deaths in custody and holding directions hearings within 28 days of a death to reduce delays, as well as investigators meeting to discuss cultural matters.
A Koori engagement officer must also meet families of the deceased.
Former Echuca man Troy Williamson (formerly Butler) is the court’s Koori Engagement Unit manager and said the changes were a major boost to further strengthening the foundations with the indigenous community.
“Courts have traditionally not been seen as a safe place for Aboriginal people,” the Yuin man said.
“We want all indigenous people across Victoria to know that if they unfortunately do have to come through here, there will be support available.
“We’re not just here to tick boxes, we’re here to be in the community to help support through the grief process. We’re here to help the person we’ve lost to respectfully enter the Dreaming.
“I applaud the coroners court. I haven’t had to come in and fight for this.
“As a court and jurisdiction, the Coroners Court of Victoria have stood up and acknowledged we haven’t been a culturally supportive and sound organisation. And from that, we are learning from the past.
“But we are now in that process of saying we are going to move forward.”
The changes were made after an inquest into the death in custody of Echuca grandmother Tanya Day in 2017.
Ms Day died after hitting her head in a Castlemaine police cell after being arrested for public drunkenness.
In April, Deputy State Coroner Caitlin English found Ms Day’s death could have been prevented.
“Through the inquest of Aunty Tanya, and other matters, that’s where we have identified we can make changes to further support Aboriginal communities,” Mr Williamson said.
“I can’t put into words how difficult that case would be for the family because I’ve never walked through the footsteps that they have.
“I thank the family for giving me the opportunity to start applying the processes we have been.”
The unit Mr Williamson leads was introduced in 2019 to help guide practices and ensure cultural sensitivity is being observed.
It means customs, including smoke ceremonies and cultural symbols such as possum-skin cloaks, can be used in the courtroom.
“The introduction of the Koori unit to the Coroners Court is vital to not just the community to support healing, to know cultural protocols and to know their loved ones are with Aboriginal people,” Mr Williamson said.
“Growing up in Echuca, when a loved one was brought down to Melbourne there were so many fears about what’s happening. No-one knows this process and it’s one you don’t want to experience.
“We really play a bridge in connecting the loved one while they are in our care at Southbank.
“We reassure the family the loved one is being supported.”
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