Give them a life

not life in prison

Just Reinvest NSW is committed to addressing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal young people in custody.

Build them a

Brighter future

We aim to influence the New South Wales Government to shift spending that has been allocated for prisons towards community-based programs and services that address the factors that contribute to criminal behaviour in young people.

We can unlock the

Pathway to change

Homelessness, child abuse, disability, high-risk drug and alcohol use, poor school attendance, a lack of appropriate services; violence, discrimination and poverty all act as precursors to young people becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system. There issues are difficult for Aboriginal young people to manage without help.

Our message is simple

Justice reinvestment is a smarter, cost-effective approach to criminal justice.
A justice reinvestment model will

Address the shameful over representation of Aboriginal young people in custody in NSW
Give young Aboriginal people a chance at life – not a life in prison
Empower communities to build their capacity and resilience
Generate taxpayer savings which can be redirected towards disadvantaged communities where crime is a major issue

Please email justreinvest@gmail.com for

More information
Newsletter sign-up
Just Reinvest NSW membership information

Our Campaign Champions

Already include:

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO

Governor of New South Wales

Mr Mick Gooda

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Social Justice Commissioner,

Australian Human Rights Commission

Dr. Tom Calma

National Coordinator,

Tackling Indigenous Smoking

Mr Bob Debus AM

Prof. Mick Dodson,

Director of the National Centre of Aboriginal Studies at the Australian National University,

and 2009 Australian of the Year

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG

Marcia Ella Duncan,

Chairperson of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Lands Council

Jack Manning-Bancroft,

CEO of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience

Professor Chris Cunneen,

The Cairns Institute, James Cook University,

Former Chairperson of the NSW Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (2000-2007)

Mr. Shane Phillips,

Chairman and CEO of The Tribal Warrior Association

Prof. Ted Wilkes,

National Indigenous Drug & Alcohol Committee

Mr Nicholas Cowdery,

AM QC, former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions

Malcolm Fraser,

former Prime Minister

Dr Naomi Mayers OAM,

CEO of Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service

Mr. Sol Bellear,

Chairperson Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service

Mr Alistair Ferguson

Megan Mitchell

National Children’s Commissioner

Our Campaign Supporters

Already include:

Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT)

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) NSW

Mr Alan Cameron, AM

Lindon Coombes,

Co-Chair of Weave Youth Family and Community

Mr. Adam Goodes,

Captain of the Sydney Swans AFL Team

Aunty Millie Ingram,

CEO of Wyanga Aged Care Service

Graham West,

CEO of St Vincent de Paul Justice

The Institute of Criminology

Dr Chris Sarra,

Executive Director of

The Stronger Smart Institute

Mr. Peter Stapleton,

Chair of the National Pro Bono

Resource Centre,

Honorary Board member

Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT)

Mr. Graham West,

CEO of St Vincent de Paul

Youth Justice Coalition

NSW Reconciliation Council

UnitingCare Children Young People and Families

Mission Australia

Latest News

Justice Reinvestment for Australia: learnings from America

Last week, I travelled with Emeritus Prof David Brown to New York and Washington DC to meet with many of the key people involved in the conceptualisation and implementation of justice reinvestment in the United States. We were there as investigators in the Australian Justice Reinvestment Project – an Australian Research Council funded initiative housed at the University of New South Wales