Background on justice reinvestment in Victoria
Whilst First Nations communities in Victoria have not yet developed their own justice reinvestment approach, there has been significant investment and reform in community-led initiatives to reshape the relationship and ways of working between the Victorian government and the First Nations communities of Victoria, including the establishment of the the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement (see more on these initiatives below).
Many of these initiatives and systemic shifts have had significant impact upon building safer, stronger First Nations communities in Victoria by leading a fundamental state-wide shift towards investing in self-determined First Nations justice solutions. These shifts would provide a critical foundation for the design and implementation of First Nations community-led justice reinvestment approaches across Victoria, should communities chose to take that path. Featured below is a report by Youth Law which investigates the potential for justice reinvestment in Victoria, along with links to the key justice initiatives in Victoria’s current framework for reform.
Investing in Communities Not Prisons: Exploring the Application of Justice Reinvestment in the Victorian Context
YouthLaw (2017)
While Victoria does not have a justice reinvestment program or pilot, it has significant policy development, investment and work underway that have features of a justice reinvestment approach. Many of these community initiatives (including child protection programs, enhanced child health care, development services and programs to keep at risk young people engaged in school) do not necessarily have justice reform as a stated focus or outcome. They are, however, making a difference in addressing underlying causes of crime and will inevitably contribute to a reduction in the number of young people coming into contact with the criminal justice system and to making communities stronger and safer.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus
In Victoria, the Aboriginal Justice Caucus acts as a self-determining body that provides state-wide Aboriginal representation, leadership and a strong voice. Its purpose is to be a conduit between the Aboriginal community and the justice system. The Aboriginal Justice Caucus provides leadership, advocacy and drives continuous change to address the drivers of offending as well as system and programmatic reform within the criminal justice system.
Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement and Youth Justice Strategy
Underpinning the work of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus is phase four of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement, Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja (‘Senior Leaders Talking Strong’), along with Victoria’s inaugural Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy, Wirkara Kulpa (‘Alongside, next to talking/speaking’). You can learn more about these partnerships and initiatives below.
Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja (Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement: Phase Four)
A partnership between the Victorian Government and Aboriginal Community (2018)
Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja or Senior Leaders Talking Strong is the fourth phase of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA). It is an important step in the long and proud history of the Aboriginal community and Victorian Government working in partnership to improve justice outcomes and family and community safety. In this phase of the Agreement they strengthen and give further expression to the Victorian Government’s commitment to self-determination.
(open access) via Victorian State Government
Wirkara Kulpa (Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy)
A partnership between the Victorian Government and Aboriginal Community (2022)
Wirkara Kulpa (the Strategy) is the first Aboriginal youth justice strategy in Victoria – it has been developed with the wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people at its heart. It is a Strategy written for and by Aboriginal children and young people and captures the aspirations and changes Aboriginal children and young people, their families and communities want to see. It has been led by the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, under the umbrella of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, and is a key initiative of Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja (AJA4), and the Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2020-2030
(open access) via Victorian State Government
Aboriginal Justice Caucus: Action Register
Aboriginal Justice Caucus
The Aboriginal Justice Caucus updates an action register of initiatives being led to improve justice outcomes for First Nations community members in Victoria, in alignment with the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement. The register is searchable, categorised according to completion status and an interactive and informative way to learn more about the impact of their work.
(open access) via Victorian State Government
Accessing funding for justice reinvestment
The Australian Government has recently launched a grants fundingopportunity for First Nations communities interested in developing community-led justice reinvestment initiatives. Below we have provided key links for communities in Victoria to access this opportunity. The sources below are the most accurate and up to date information on federal funding for justice reinvestment.
An overview of both programs
Some key documents within this webpage include:
National Justice Reinvestment Program
Access to the application process
Some key documents within this webpage include:
- Grant Opportunity Guidelines (docx)
- Program questions and answers (docx)
- Application process questions and answers (docx)
- Sample application (pdf)
- Various templates to support your application
If you have any questions during the application period, please contact the Community Grants Hub on 1800 020 283 or email support@communitygrants.gov.au
The Community Grants Hub will respond to emailed questions within 5 working days. The Questions and Answers document will be updated to include answers to questions and addenda will be published on GrantConnect.
Accessing practical support for justice reinvestment
Alongside the co-design process, the Commonwealth Government has partnered with Ninti One, the Justice Reinvestment Network Australia and Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research (collectively the ‘JR Partner’). The role of the JR Partner is to share their collective JR and First Nations justice experience by offering practical support to First Nations communities as they prepare for justice reinvestment. Practical support to communities will remain an ongoing priority of the Australian Government’s commitment to justice reinvestment, including through the establishment of a National Justice Reinvestment Unit in 2024.
What types of support are available
The type of support provided will differ from community to community and will be unique to each local context. It may include but is not limited to supporting:
- Relationship-building and knowledge sharing to build awareness of justice reinvestment
- Training and development opportunities for First Nations communities in key enabling areas for justice reinvestment (e.g., grants writing, governance, facilitation, advocacy, communications)
- Support for the development of justice reinvestment plans, strategies and priorities for each local context
- Recruitment of a local First Nations JR lead on a casual basis
- Access to a small amount of flexible funds e.g. financial support to host community workshops
Ultimately each community will be able to identify and prioritise the types of support they would like to receive. The JR partner team will then work directly with up to two communities to implement tailored support in those area(s).
How to express interest in receiving support
Victorian communities are invited to express their interest in receiving support from 23 October 2023 to 30 November 2023 by completing the form below and returning it to the JR Partner at justicereinvestment@nintione.com.au. Alternatively, reach out to the team for a yarn and a member of the team can document your community’s expression of interest for you.
Each expression of interest should aim to demonstrate their community’s need for support in one or more of the key elements of justice reinvestment. These include:
- Community-led – having strong local First Nations community leadership
- Place-based – focused on achieving positive change in a particular place
- Data-driven – using both government data and community expertise to inform decisions.
- Collaboration and systems thinking – collaborating across the community and with stakeholders to develop a holistic approach that addresses both local challenges and structural challenges (i.e. drivers of contact with the criminal justice system that sit within government)
- Justice-focussed – working to address drivers of contact with the criminal justice system and incarceration.
Where to access more information
More information can be found in the frequently asked questions document below.
Alternatively, reach out to the JR Partner directly at justicereinvestment@nintione.com.au.
Justice Reinvestment Network Australia 