Communities in Dunghutti Country (Kempsey and the Macleay Valley) and Nowra ready for JR

In May this year, we were excited to be invited back to Dunghutti country, to continue to work alongside ‘Learning the Macleay’ – a community led collaborative initiative funded by the The Australian government in partnership with philanthropy, and the local service sector. And last month, we were extremely pleased to be able to welcome the NSW Government’s commitment to back our justice reinvestment approach in Dunghutti (Kempsey and the Macleay Valley), and in Nowra.

In Kempsey and the Macleay Valley, this initiative will be a collaboration with the community and partners like the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Department of Social Services, Dusseldorp Forum and the Paul Ramsay Foundation. 

In these communities we already see Aboriginal people leading change and Justice Reinvestment will support their work and further empower them to achieve deeper impact. Local ‘backbone’ teams will be established in Kempsey and Nowra Aboriginal communities, that help build capacity and supports governance, alongside the strategic assistance that our supporting body can bring in JR NSW.

We are working with ‘Learning the Macleay’ to establish systems change priorities in a Stronger Places, Stronger People partnership. Through this partnership our implementing partner, Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation will have a clear focus on data analysis that will help determine “justice circuit breakers” and establish relationships with the local and regional NSW Police commands.

In Nowra we will also work with multiple Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to establish a backbone team to drive a community led justice reinvestment approach.

An investment of $2.5 million over three years will focus on locally led initiatives with existing government programs, local Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, and local service providers along with the NSW Police.