Greek Aboriginal Andrew Jackomos has been appointed as Victoria’s first Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.
Mr Jackomos believes he was chosen for this role due to his ability to bring people together.
“The government sees that as an important process for improving the outcomes of Aboriginal children,” Mr Jackomos tells Neos Kosmos.
He says his main focus in the role will be on “vulnerable Aboriginal kids” and to ensure that they have access to “better education and health outcomes and better outcomes from human services”.
For most of his life, Mr Jackomos has worked in the area of Aboriginal affairs. For the last 14 years he has been the executive director in the Victorian Department of Justice in the Koori Unit to improve justice outcomes for the Aboriginal community in Victoria, as well as bring the Aboriginal community and the justice system together.
Mr Jackomos grew up in Carlton, Victoria. His father descends from Kastellorizo and his mother is from the Yorta Yorta people along the River Murray.