Centre for Innovative Justice

16/12/2025

Human rights, not hatred. Shared values, not violence. Our hearts are with Jewish communities all over Australia in their grief and as they hold their children that much closer.

A statement from RMIT University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Alec Cameron.

04/12/2025

Last fortnight, a group of RMIT law students returned from an extraordinary Study Tour to Aotearoa New Zealand — a week many described as life-changing. Led by Course Coordinator Lloyd England and the CIJ's Rob Hulls and accompanied by the CIJ's Samara Young, the tour offered a rare, immersive insight into innovative, culturally grounded and community-led approaches to justice.

Hosted by RMIT’s School of Law and curated by the CIJ, the six-day program connected students with restorative justice specialists, Māori legal practitioners, community organisations and judicial leaders across Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). The itinerary included visits to Project Restore, Corban Revell Lawyers, the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODT Court), Tīmatatanga Hou (New Beginnings Court), the Rangatahi Youth Court, Auckland City Mission, and the Māngere Community Law Centre, along with a briefing from DLA Piper New Zealand.

For many, experiencing the AODT Court, Rangatahi Court and Project Restore first hand, including witnessing a haka performed in court, were among the most powerful moments of the trip. Students shared that these encounters reshaped their understanding of what justice can look like when grounded in culture, healing and community.

Reflecting on the value of the tour for emerging lawyers, Rob noted: “Māori culture is embedded in the therapeutic courts in New Zealand, and this leads to respect for the process and better outcomes for those who interact with the courts. Providing holistic wrap-around support for young offenders or those who offend because of an addiction can turn lives around and benefit the entire community.”

Academic Lead Lloyd England echoed the impact, saying: “The word ‘transformative’ is often overused in higher education contexts; however, each law student attending the CIJ Study Tour reported a truly life-changing impact from witnessing innovative, compassionate, human-centric justice.”

Throughout the week, Samara asked students why they chose RMIT for their law degree. Unexpectedly, 80% said they selected RMIT specifically because of the CIJ — even those with multiple offers from other universities.

By the end of the tour, many students left with newfound clarity about their pathways, with several sharing that the experience had shifted the direction of their studies and future careers.

We are incredibly proud of these emerging justice leaders, grateful to the organisations and courts who welcomed them so generously, and energised by the profound learning the tour provided.

A huge thank you to all our partners in Aotearoa New Zealand for making this experience possible — and to our remarkable students, who brought open minds, open hearts and a commitment to building fairer systems.

02/12/2025

Today marks International Day for People with Disability, and this year's theme is 'Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress'.

To achieve a truly inclusive society, we need to make sure our justice system is inclusive and supportive for people with disability.

Social progress means making sure people with disability do not experience harm when they interact with systems and institutions. For a truly disability-inclusive society we need to make criminal justice systems respond appropriately to people with disability. This means preventing disability discrimination and the criminalisation of people with disability.

A recent photo of Simon and Emily visiting Voices for Change to record our joint submission to the Disability Discrimination Act review.

24/11/2025

As we start this 16 Days of Activism, the CIJ notes the global theme, ‘UNite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls’. Across our work focused on domestic, family and sexual violence, we see how digital violence particularly impacts young people in the context of their wider experiences of real world harm. Our research with those working in practice roles and with young people themselves, however, shows that the answer does not lie in punitive or blanket responses, particularly as these impact young people from the most vulnerable cohorts.

Rather, improvement lies in understanding the role that digital interactions play in young people’s lives and in creating opportunities for safe and supported disclosures. Building awareness and positive identity formation, as well as trusted relationships, also function as protective mechanisms through which young people can have agency in how they manage the influx of harmful digital abuse.

At the same time, safety comes from building respectful attitudes – and safe environments for discussing appropriate behaviour from an early age. Isolated interventions are insufficient, with evidence showing that ad hoc or one-off educational programs are not only ineffective but can be counterproductive.

As well as making those who profit from digital environments take responsibility for regulation, our research highlights a tough reality – that the harder work and equally significant responsibility lies in a longer term project – making homes, schools and communities safe IRL so that harmful beliefs and behaviours are less likely to spill over into both the digital and non-digital world.

21/11/2025

16–22 November marks International Restorative Justice Week - a time to recognise the power of community-led, relational and healing-centred approaches to responding to harm.

This year’s theme, “From Question to Principle: Embedding Restorative Justice in Human Rights,” highlights the growing recognition that justice must be grounded in dignity, accountability and connection. It also reminds us of the importance of sharing knowledge, building skills, and expanding the confidence of communities and organisations to incorporate restorative approaches, while continuing to advocate for their wider adoption in systems and policy.

Earlier this month, our Justice & Healing Forum brought together First Nations and community leaders, practitioners, educators and advocates who are advancing this work in powerful ways. Their insights, creativity and lived wisdom demonstrated what it means to embed restorative principles in practice. This event, and its high demand, was a powerful reminder of the appetite for restorative practices within communities, and alongside conventional justice systems.

You can view our full photo gallery from the event here: https://cij.org.au/news-and-views/justice-and-healing-restorative-and-community-responses-to-harm/

20/11/2025

Today marks Trans Day of Remembrance, where we stop, remember and honour the trans and gender diverse (TGA) people who have lost their lives to violence and discrimination.

In the lead-up to 16 Days of Activism, today is an important reminder that to end gender-based violence, we can't ignore the violence and discrimination faced by TGD people. We all deserve a violence-free future.

17/11/2025

We are thrilled to congratulate Yallum Yallum Elders and Respected Persons Council and the Justice Team at Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-Operative , who have been awarded the 2025 Victorian Aboriginal Justice Strengthening Culture Award.

This recognition honours their self-determined, community-led work to support Aboriginal people who come into contact with the justice system.

Yallum Yallum is a powerful example of what justice looks like when guided by Elders, cultural knowledge and community voices. This model shows the strength and wisdom already held within Aboriginal communities, and the transformative impact that comes when systems make space for that leadership.

We are deeply proud to continue walking alongside Yallum Yallum, working with Goolum Goolum, and to witness this work being celebrated for the life-changing impact it is having.

16/11/2025

Today is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a global day to honour those whose lives have been lost or forever changed by road trauma, and to recognise the families, loved ones and communities who continue to carry its impacts.

Through our work with the Accident Commission (TAC) and Amber Community supporting people affected by serious road harm, we see firsthand the deep and lasting effects that road trauma has on individuals and families. It is this insight that underscores the importance of today: a moment to pause, reflect, and hold space for those whose lives have been shattered or altered in ways that cannot be undone.

We honour the people who have died, those who live with life-changing injuries, and everyone who continues to navigate grief, recovery and rebuilding after road trauma. We also acknowledge the frontline workers, first responders, and support services who walk alongside them.

13/11/2025

As a co-convenor of Smart Justice 4 Young People - a coalition of lawyers, social workers, youth workers, financial counsellors and experts - the Centre for Innovative Justice strongly opposes the Victorian Government’s youth justice announcements yesterday.

These proposed laws will do further harm to Victorian children, their siblings, their parents, and the broader community. While short-term responses may look good on a media release, sector experts know that regressive and punitive responses are doomed to fail and only serve to entrench cycles of offending.

10/11/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Justice and Healing: Restorative and Community Responses to Harm

Last week’s forum brought together an incredible community of practitioners, advocates, and thinkers dedicated to building more connected, compassionate approaches to justice.

We couldn’t have done it without the generous contributions of our inspiring speakers, panellists, and workshop facilitators, and of course, the dedication of our hardworking CIJ and Open Circle teams who made the day possible.

It was a day of deep reflection, rich discussion, and hope for what’s possible when justice and healing come together.

Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-Operative Flat Out Inc

31/10/2025

Today marks a truly historic moment for Victoria, with the passage of the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 — the first legislation of its kind in Australia, paving the way towards truth, justice and self-determination. This moment is more than legislative: it signals a significant step in recognising the authority, expertise and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The CIJ recognises that justice is not just about reforming systems, it’s also about justice being shaped by those most affected. The new treaty framework affirms that First Peoples should play a leading role in influencing the laws and policies that impact their lives. We welcome this shift towards self-determination, community-led decision-making and truthful acknowledgment of the past.

Congratulations to the First Peoples’ Assembly, treaty negotiators, community leaders and all those who have stayed committed over many years.

17/10/2025

We cannot let this report gather dust!

On October 2nd, alongside our partners Melbourne City Mission and a diverse group of strong and purpose-driven Lived (and Living) Experience Advisers, we launched our research report Unsafe and Unseen. The incredible young people, Imogen, Conor, Elvis & Danni, who ran the event captivated every single person, from elected members of government including Ged Kearney and Richardson , to policymakers, practitioners and university leaders, who attended this event.

The voices of young people captured in this report have told us where the system is failing and, perhaps most importantly, what a good service response for unaccompanied children and young people could and should look like. Our hope is that service providers and practitioners will embed these learnings within their programs and practice, and that government will use its influence and resources to better support young people. As described in this report, and by the project’s Lived (and Living) Experience Advisers, meaningful action means access to dedicated statewide case management for young people as victim survivors in their own right, formal trauma recovery supports, and expanding youth-specific housing options.

Find the summary and full reports here, along with a practice resource for those who want to want to build their practice and make services safer for unaccompanied young people: https://bit.ly/4pXKNjm