Justice Reinvestment leaders meet in Bathurst as Aboriginal Incarceration Levels Remain Unacceptably High
The NSW Justice Reinvestment Community of Practice met in Bathurst to share local solutions, data tools and collaborative strategies to reduce Aboriginal incarceration.
In late February, more than 50 people gathered in Bathurst for the Justice Reinvestment (JR) Community of Practice Forum for New South Wales, co-hosted by Wahluu Health. The forum brought together Aboriginal community leaders, service providers, researchers and government representatives to share progress, strengthen relationships, and reflect on the ongoing work of community-led justice reinvestment across the state.
Participants also expressed mounting concern at the ongoing unacceptable levels of incarceration of Aboriginal people in New South Wales and the apparent normalisation of this reality.
Geoff Scott, CEO Just Reinvest NSW
Across two days, several Aboriginal communities shared updates on their JR initiatives and the local solutions they are leading to address the drivers of contact with the criminal justice system. Presentations reflected the diversity of approaches being developed across NSW, while reinforcing a shared commitment to community leadership, cultural authority and long-term systems change.
One community organisation described how it is strengthening its role as a local accountability mechanism between the community and key institutions such as schools and youth services. Another shared its growing focus on supporting young people returning from custody, with wraparound support that extends beyond the individual to include families and siblings, recognising that reintegration requires whole-of-family and community support.
Communities also reflected on the complexity of working within multiple government initiatives and governance structures. While new programs can create opportunities, participants noted that additional layers of coordination can sometimes duplicate existing community-led work, adding administrative pressure rather than strengthening what is already in place. These reflections reinforced the importance of aligning government efforts with locally established JR structures and decision-making processes.
The forum also highlighted how justice reinvestment continues to broaden conversations beyond justice alone. Communities are increasingly addressing interconnected issues such as food security, wellbeing, education and housing—recognising that reducing contact with the justice system requires investment in the social and cultural strengths that keep communities safe and strong.
Just Reinvest NSW also demonstrated the development of a new justice reinvestment data dashboard that will soon be available for communities across the state. The dashboard will allow communities to access and bring together multiple publicly available data sets and build their own local dashboards to track trends in justice system contact. Importantly, the tool will also help communities estimate potential government savings associated with reductions in incarceration. By strengthening the evidence base in this way, the dashboard is intended to support communities to make a stronger case for reinvesting those savings into locally designed, community-led solutions that improve outcomes for their people.
Partners and collaborators shared updates on their work supporting community-led approaches. The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) discussed its Local Justice Plans and emphasised how existing JR backbone organisations are helping bring stakeholders together and strengthen coordinated responses at the local level. The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research outlined the range of data available to communities and the ongoing work responding to requests that support local planning and evidence-based initiatives.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice and JRNSW provided an update on the Joint Collaboration Group, which aims to improve how government systems engage with and support community-led JR models. Researchers also presented emerging work exploring future mechanisms for justice reinvestment, including governance and economic models that centre Aboriginal self-determination. Philanthropic partners reflected on more than a decade of investment in justice reinvestment initiatives nationally and the lessons shaping future support for community-led change.
A powerful theme throughout the forum was the ongoing impact of Sorry Business on communities affected by high levels of incarceration. Participants shared reflections on the emotional and financial pressures families experience when loved ones in custody are unable to attend funerals, or can only attend under restrictive conditions. These experiences highlight the broader human impacts of incarceration and the importance of policies that recognise cultural obligations and community wellbeing.
Issues raised during the forum will continue to inform the Community of Practice’s collective advocacy and collaboration with government through Just Reinvest NSW and the Department of Communities and Justice.
The gathering reaffirmed the strength of the growing justice reinvestment movement in NSW: communities working together, sharing knowledge, and leading solutions that invest in people, culture and place to create safer futures.
