An aboriginal man who was awarded Victorian Young Australian of the Year for his advocacy for indigenous health care in prisons has been charged with possessing imitation firearms and police uniforms.
Darcy McGauley-Bartlett, 27, who won the award in 2023 and previously worked as an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer for Victoria Police, was arrested last month after a raid on a home in Huntly, Bendigo.
Police allegedly seized 15 gel blasters, which are prohibited weapons in Victoria and require a licence to possess, along with police uniforms, batons, and fake handcuffs and police certificates, ABC News reported.
Mr McGauley-Bartlett was granted bail and will appear in court again in October.
In his profile on the National Australia Day Council’s website, Mr McGauley-Bartlett is described as a “proud Gunai Kurnai man” who “has overcome significant challenges in his youth to emerge as a role model and advocate for aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people”.
“Darcy has helped establish the State’s first Aboriginal Custodial Health team and the first Aboriginal Primary Health Strategy to improve health outcomes for indigenous prisoners,” the profile states.
“Darcy was pivotal in supporting health care for aboriginal prisoners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including working to increase uptake of the vaccine, and ensuring their voice has been heard through quality improvement activity being undertaken to improve health care in Victoria’s prison system.”
The profile states that Mr McGauley-Bartlett “implemented Victoria’s first Aboriginal Youth Cautioning Program to ensure all young indigenous people are eligible for a caution when coming into contact with the justice system for the first time”.
Mr McGauley-Bartlett appeared on ABC panel show Q+A to discuss the failed Voice to Parliament referendum in the same year he won the award, and last year launched a podcast called No Shame Just Truth.
Header image: Left, McGauley-Bartlett (National Australia Day Council). Right, McGauley-Bartlett being arrested (Victoria Police).
