Aboriginal Visitors are Department of Justice employees, who are dedicated to working solely with the Aboriginal prison population. AVS staff are located at Department of Justice prison’s and youth detention facilities within Western Australia (Monday – Friday, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm).

The Aboriginal Visitors Scheme (AVS) forms part of Prison Support Services within the Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Branch. AVS provides culturally appropriate support and works as part of a multidisciplinary team to prevent instances of suicide and self-harm amongst Aboriginal people in adult prisons and the youth detention facility. AVS promote a culture of resilience and healing and help prisoners and detainees connect with their culture and community.

An afterhours service is available to Aboriginal prisoners and detainees through the AVS Freecall 1800 telephone services. AVS provides assistance to the Aboriginal community via the AVS Freecall 1800 number where there are concerns reported about the social and emotional wellbeing of prisoners and detainees in custody.