Authorities in Victoria have confirmed the death of an Aboriginal prisoner, marking the third Indigenous death in custody across Australia over a week-long period.
Corrections Victoria said the man died at Ravenhall Correctional Centre on 7 March.
“We recognise that all deaths in custody have impacts on family members, friends, corrections staff and the Aboriginal community, and we’re working to ensure they are provided with the support they need,” Corrections Victoria said in a statement.
The coroner has been informed of the man’s death and will formally determine its cause.
It comes after the deaths in custody of two other Indigenous people in NSW were revealed on Tuesday to have occurred last week.
A man in his mid-30s died on 2 March at Long Bay Hospital. Authorities believe his death was “natural” and that he had “multiple” medical issues.
Three days later, a woman in her mid-50s died at Silverwater Women’s Prison. She is believed to have taken her own life.
The NSW government did not publicly announce the deaths, with the latter only revealed during questioning at budget estimates.
The Aboriginal Legal Service on Tuesday called on the NSW government to be more transparent and timely with sharing information about deaths in custody with the public.
“The NSW government has an obligation to let people know things that are in the public interest, and this includes when there has been a death in their care,” Karly Warner, CEO of the ALS NSW/ACT, said.
There have been more than 400 recorded deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody in Australia since a royal commission into the issue ended in the early 1990s.
“The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody made multiple recommendations in 1991, yet many of these haven’t been acted upon. Too many reports and inquiries end up as little more than paper gathering dust, which means people continue to suffer preventable deaths,” Ms Warner said.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25).
More information is available at Beyond Blue.org.au and lifeline.org.au.
