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Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement Phase 1 (2000)

Purpose

The aims of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) were to:

• analyse and identify ways of improving Koori access to justice-related programs and services, and ways to make the programs and services more effective
• develop a strategic plan and program delivery aimed at reducing Koori contact with the criminal justice system
• develop a process for implementing and monitoring the progress of the justice plan.

Initiatives

Key initiatives of the AJA included:

• establishing a network of Koori Courts (adult and children’s courts) across Victoria
• establishing community programs, including funding opportunities through a community grants program to develop community initiatives across the state and programs targeting young people at risk
• introducing more community-based alternatives to imprisonment to reduce re-offending, and to improve contact with families
• implementing a Koori Recruitment and Career Development Strategy, leading to more Koories in justice-related jobs
• introducing Aboriginal liaison officers in the courts, in police and in the juvenile justice, youth services and correctional systems
• improving representation in justice-related decision making (through the courts, the Indigenous Bail Justice Program, parole boards, and other committees and boards).

Representation

Through the AJA, it was recognised that Koori communities needed to be involved in decision making and delivering culturally-appropriate justice services, for it to successfully meet its objectives.

The Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (RAJAC), now comprising nine committees across Victoria, was established to help improve justice outcomes.

RAJAC Chairs are members of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee, which in turn is represented at the Aboriginal Justice Forum, the peak body responsible for overseeing implementation of AJA.

After four years of operation, the AJA was reviewed and a second phase (AJA2) was developed.

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Author:	Department of Justice
Place of Publication:	Melbourne, Victoria.
Publisher:	Department of Justice
Date of Publication:	2004
Number of Pages:	50
Copyright:	State of Victoria, 2004.