Andrew Jackomos’ reign as Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People began in July 2013, two months before Tony Abbott became prime minister, and the former Koori Justice Unit head has some strong words to share on the Abbott administration’s track-record.

His most damning reflection is that the plight of young Aboriginal children – particularly in urban areas – has worsened, rather than improved, because of the government’s actions.

The prime minister may have expressed disappointment at the latest ‘Closing the Gap’ report (confirming the parlous state of affairs on narrowing the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in health, education and employment) but as the Victorian commissioner told Neos Kosmos this week, that it came as no surprise.

“People who are in this game knew what was coming,” says Mr Jackomos.

“The federal government talks about continued investments, but has in fact withdrawn funding … for instance it hasn’t renewed the housing partnerships between state and federal. There’s a whole range of reasons why the situation is getting worse.”

While Aboriginal people in remote areas are the focus of most of the political rhetoric, urban communities often find themselves disconnected from mainstream acknowledgement; the crux of the matter is that the majority of Australia’s 670,000 Indigenous population live in urban areas – and 47,000 of them reside in Victoria.

Meanwhile the PM and his cabinet have a habit of heading north to prove their credentials and commitment to improving Indigenous lives. Mr Abbott spent a week in September living under canvas in East Arnhem Land (and has pledged to do so again) to “ensure that the concerns of remote Australia, that the concerns of indigenous Australia, for at least one week, are at the absolute forefront of our national thinking”.

As a symbolic gesture, the PM’s trips to Australia’s far north are fair enough, says Jackomos, but the majority’s needs shouldn’t be relegated to a lower agenda item.

“I’m not saying there isn’t a great need in remote communities, there is, but the levels of disadvantage, of life expectancy, and disengagement from education in urban communities – these things are out of control.

“There’s a whole range of factors which the federal government is walking away from, in terms of working with urban indigenous communities.”

After the ACT, Victoria has the fastest-growing Aboriginal population of any state in Australia and the latest figures show shocking rates of disadvantage, particularly for children.

More than 12 times as likely than the average to be removed by authorities from their families, Indigenous children in Victoria are the victims of an epidemic in domestic violence – often brought on by drug and alcohol abuse.

“If these numbers were for white kids, there would be a state emergency,” says the commissioner

Moreover, despite increasing concern, the Abbott government is withdrawing funding previously allocated to Aboriginal support services and Jackomos says the government is dragging its feet on programs that target family violence.

“Commonwealth funding targeting Indigenous family violence after 30 June is not guaranteed and the national network of Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services have had to apply for their recurrent core funding. They won’t know the outcome until mid-March at the earliest.”

“This is a ridiculous situation, just at a time we need such programs to be firmly established and supported.”

Under the Abbott government’s restructuring of Indigenous funding, hundreds of organisations are waiting to find out whether they will continue to receive funding through the government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy, which has reduced more than 150 programs into five areas.

For the commissioner, the only upside he has experienced in his role as a state overseer (reporting directly to the Victorian parliament), is the actions of the Andrews government, which he calls “a breath of fresh air” compared to the previous Napthine administration.

“There’s been a change of leadership in the department of health and human services, and it’s signalled a change in the style of the partnership between the state government and the Koori community.”

Jackomos has also praised Jenny Mikakos, Minister for Families, Children and Youth Affairs, with whom he says, he has a “solid and positive” relationship.

“Up until now it hasn’t been an open or transparent process and Minister Mikakos has written to me and promised it will be a lot more transparent.

“For me to be able to monitor, which is my job as commissioner, I need to be able to get hold of critical and local data, and we couldn’t get that under the previous government.”

Jackomos describes his first 20 months in the post as “a learning experience” – one of revelation and no small degree of trauma.

“I’ve seen more than 200 Aboriginal children in out-of-home care and many of these are doing it very tough.

“There are places where it’s working, but I see a system in turmoil where our kids are disconnected from their culture and from their family. The legislation just isn’t working because it’s not being actioned on the ground.”

Showing a defiant readiness to speak out, in his previous role as a public servant Andrew Jackomos oversaw key reforms in Indigenous justice, including the creation of Koori courts in Victoria and three Aboriginal Justice agreements.

Given the support of state and federal decision-makers, this tirelessly campaigning commissioner – of Kastelorizon and Koori descent – will continue to make a difference to Australia’s often forgotten children in need.