Aboriginal man dies in custody in Victoria

Australia has recorded its third Indigenous death in custody in the space of nine days after a man died in a Victoria jail.

An Aboriginal man has died in custody at a Victorian prison, the third Indigenous death in custody across the nation this month.

Corrections Victoria confirmed the man’s death at Ravenhall Correctional Centre in Melbourne’s outer west on Thursday.

The prisoner was an Aboriginal man and passed away on March 7, Corrections Victoria said in a statement.

“The family of the man were notified with our condolences, and a smoking ceremony is being arranged,” they said.

Corrections Victoria said the Aboriginal Justice Caucus had been advised on the day and they were working closely with them and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.

“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,” they said.

The death has been reported to the coroner, who will formally determine the cause, but it’s understood to be from natural causes.

The man died at Ravenhall Correctional Centre on March 7. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

It comes after an Indigenous man and woman died in custody in NSW last week.

The man aged in his mid-30s died at Long Bay Hospital, which treats NSW prisoners, on March 2.

His death was believed to be “natural” and he had multiple medical issues.

A woman aged in her mid-50s was then found dead in her cell at Silverwater Women’s Prison on March 5. She is believed to have taken her own life.

The deaths were only revealed when Corrective Services NSW commissioner Peter Severin was questioned during the NSW parliament’s budget estimates on Tuesday.

Both deaths have been referred to the coroner.

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