Justice and Community Safety Directorate
The Justice and Community Safety (JACS) Directorate engages with the community by utilising a variety of strategies and tools depending upon the type of engagement that needs to be undertaken. For example, having conversations with the community, formal consultation processes (such as town hall meetings and online contributions) and policy development submissions.
Project | Summary |
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Emergency Services Agency Station Upgrade and Relocation – Aranda Station | The ACT Government was funded to construct a new co-located Ambulance and Fire and Rescue facility in the Belconnen region, to replace the existing aged Belconnen Ambulance and Fire and Rescue facilities. Extensive community consultation was conducted in the 2015-16 Financial Year with the Belconnen Community Council to seek comments from the Community regarding the proposed project and location. This consultation process was continued into the 2016-17 Financial year, to ensure that open dialogue between the Territory and the community was maintained, endeavouring to ensure that all concerns raised by the community, where practical, were addressed. The new facility was completed in October 2016 and the facility became operational in November 2016. |
Workshop to improve access to courts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the ACT | On 9 May 2017, the ACT Courts Cultural Diversity Committee hosted a workshop to identify practical measures that would improve accessibility to the courts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT. The workshop was attended by 55 persons from across key agencies and community organisations. The workshop resulted in a number of recommendations on ways that the courts could improve access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These recommendations are currently being considered by the ACT Courts Cultural Diversity Committee, which comprises judicial officers and registrars from each court. |
ACT Fire and Rescue - Fire Safety Education Campaign | In the 2016-17 reporting period, ACT Fire and Rescue (ACTF&R) successfully delivered the annual Fire Safety Education Campaign (Fire Ed) to over 5,700 kindergarten students in ACT schools. The aim of the Fire Ed Program is to provide students with fun, practical and essential information on fire safety and what to do if a fire starts. ACTF&R start teaching fire safety to children from a young age to ensure that children and their families are safe at home. Students are educated in a 45-minute lesson delivered by front-line firefighters. The session highlights the importance of:
The session also teaches students they do not need to be afraid of firefighters in full personal protective gear. These lessons give ACT students a chance to sit in a fire truck and see the equipment used to save lives. ACTF&R annually invite all Kindergarten classes in the ACT to take part in Fire Ed. |
ACT Rural Fire Service - CBR Bushfire Ready Community Education Campaign | The CBR Bushfire Ready campaign was first undertaken in the 2015–16 reporting period. It involves the delivery of a targeted message by emergency service volunteers and staff to Canberrans living near the urban bushland interface to prepare their homes, property and families for potential bushfires and natural disasters. The CBR Bushfire Ready campaign in 2016–17 highlighted the positive influence of delivering community education in an integrated and coordinated approach. This has encouraged the ACT community to take greater responsibility for their safety by acting on information, advice and other cues provided before an emergency. |
ACTSES - StormSafe Campaign | The 2016 StormSafe campaign ran over the month of September 2016 with an official launch at the Aranda Fire and Ambulance Station Open Day on 3 September 2016. StormSafe messaging and activities were provided at a range of events including the Wanniassa Preschool Fun day and stalls at Bunnings Stores around the ACT. ACTSES volunteers also conducted StormSafe messaging through social media in the lead up to and throughout the campaign. This was a national campaign where SES jurisdictions across the country participated with their community. StormSafe activities focused on educating parents and their children on what to do before, during and after a storm, including what they can do to prepare their homes and how they can support neighbours, family and pets. The messaging also centred on how to contact the ACTSES for assistance during storms and floods, including when to phone 132 500 or 000. The ACTSES StormSafe Campaign included display stalls and educational activities conducted at strategic locations around Canberra. This included events of particular interest to children and young people such as National Science week at the Kingston Bus Depot Markets. |
Family Safety Hub Co-design | The Family Safety Hub is a major part of the ACT Government’s commitment to addressing family violence in the ACT. In collaboration with ThinkPlace, The Office of the Coordinator General for Family Safety is working with key stakeholders in domestic and family violence, both within the ACT Government and the community to co-design the Family Safety Hub The Office of the Coordinator General for Family Safety is leading the co-design process with the sector to develop and test a proposition for the Family Safety Hub that increases the effectiveness of existing services. Community and stakeholder consultation for the Family Safety Hub began in August 2016. The initial user insights stage is now complete, with interviews conducted with 50 workers from frontline services in the community sector and government. Approximately an additional 20 people with lived experience were also interviewed, spanning most of the target groups. An insights report was prepared to reflect the core insights in a simple, easy to understand way and this will inform the next stage of the Family Safety Hub design. |
Service Planning for the Legal Assistance Sector | Legislation, Policy and Programs represents the Justice and Community Safety Directorate as the chair of the ACT Legal Assistance Forum (ACTLAF). ACTLAF consists of representatives from legal assistance organisations in the ACT, including Legal Aid ACT and the ACT’s community legal centres including Canberra Community Law, the Women’s Legal Centre, the Tenants’ Union and the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT). Other participants in the ACT’s legal sector, such as the ACT Law Society and the Bar Association of the ACT and the University of Canberra, are also members. ACTLAF meets four times per year to discuss the coordination of legal assistance service provision in the ACT region. The aim is to ensure that services are integrated, efficient and effective and focused on improving access to justice for disadvantaged people, while maximising service delivery within existing resources. |
Retirement Villages Stage 2 | During 2016-17 Legislation, Policy and Programs continued to review the Retirement Villages Act. JACS has engaged stakeholders through a Review Advisory Group and visiting Retirement Villages to speak to residents and operators. The review of the Retirement Villages Act looked at the following broad areas:
The Review Advisory Group consisted of stakeholders representing residents and operators of retirement villages, advocacy groups, the ACT Law Society Elder Law Committee and others. The Group helped to develop the Terms of Reference, report recommendations and amendments to the Retirement Villages Act and Regulation. |
ACT Road Safety Forum | The ACT Road Safety Action Plan 2016-2020 includes a commitment to hold an annual ACT Road Safety Forum. The 2016 forum addressed the latest research and developments in drug driving reduction and examined ways in which this evidence could be used to inform interventions which might minimise drug driving in the ACT. Around 50 people attended the forum from community, private sector and government organisations. |
Drug Driving Communications and Education Working Group | Following on from the ACT Road Safety Forum on drug driving, a working group was established to discuss and provide advice to the Minister about ways in which communications and education activities could be enhanced to support improved road safety outcomes relating to drug driving. The working group includes members from a range of community, private sector and government organisations including the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Association ACT, ACT Policing and ACT Health. The working group met twice in 2016-17. |
Motorcycle Lane Filtering Trial | The two year motorcycle lane filtering trial commenced in February 2015. A telephone survey of 400 people from the ACT community was conducted pre-trial and again post-trial in 2017. A working group was established, comprising representatives for the Motorcycle Riders’ Association, Stay Upright ACT, Living Streets, NRMA motoring and services, government representatives and ACT Policing. The working group met three times in the lead up to the trial and is currently overseeing an evaluation of the trial. |
Greyhound Transition | A Transition Options Analysis was undertaken to provide the Government with advice on the issues involved in transitioning to end greyhound racing in the ACT and the most appropriate way to implement the transition. The purpose of the analysis was to support the consultation and coordination between government agencies, the greyhound racing industry and animal welfare and dog rescue organisations. |
Liquor Advisory Board | The Liquor Advisory Board (LAB) is made up of:
The statutory responsibility of the LAB is to advise the Minister about matters associated with the operation and effectiveness of the Liquor Act 2010 and measures, including legislative measures that support the harm minimisation and community safety principles. The LAB met once during the reporting period in April 2017 and it was consulted during the development of the reforms contained in the Liquor Amendment Bill 2017. |
Victims Advisory Board | The Victims Advisory Board (VAB) is made up of the:
The statutory responsibility of the VAB is to advise the Minister on policies, priorities and strategies for the acknowledgment, protection and promotion of the interests of victims in the administration of justice. The VAB met three times during the reporting period on 19 September 2016, 6 December 2016 and 30 May 2017. |
Development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Service Delivery Model | In September 2016, JACS held a community consultation in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body as part of a broader consultation process about the development of the Justice Service Delivery Model that will replace the former Aboriginal Justice Centre. |
ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Partnership | The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Caucus was established in November 2016 and quickly became a vital part of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Partnership framework. The Caucus is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff from justice-related agencies and community organisations who monitor progress under the Partnership from their community and frontline experience. The Caucus met three times during the 2016-17 period. |
Development of the Justice Reinvestment Strategy | Over 30 representatives from government, the community sector and academia participated in development of the Development of the Justice Reinvestment Strategy (JRIS). The agencies represented include:
Key deliverables that will underpin the development of the ACT Strategy supported by this group and approved by the Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety include:
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Consorting Laws | On 9 June 2016, the ACT Government released a discussion paper on consorting laws for the ACT. The paper provided an overview of consorting laws in Australia and a proposed model for implementation in the ACT and raised a number of issues for consideration in relation to the impact of these laws on vulnerable people. Submissions were due by 8 July 2016. Eight submissions were received, two in support of consorting laws and six opposing. Based on this and other consultation processes and the importance of ensuring that consorting laws comply with human rights, the ACT Government decided to keep consorting laws under review. |
Drink and Food Spiking | On 7 February 2017, LPP wrote to a targeted list of stakeholders to advise that the ACT Government was considering the introduction of a drink and food spiking offence in the ACT. Stakeholders were provided with a copy of an information paper titled Drink and Food Spiking in the ACT. The paper compared ACT legislation with the legislation of other jurisdictions, included a discussion of defences and penalties and recommended that a model offence provision, developed by the Model Criminal Code Officers Committee in 2007, be implemented in the ACT. Submissions were due by 21 March 2017. Formal submissions were received from two stakeholders and informal comments were provided by two stakeholders. The submissions informed the development of a drink and food spiking offence. |
Crimes (Intimate Image Abuse) | On 19 May 2017, all jurisdictions agreed to the National statement of principles relating to the criminalisation of the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The principles were developed as best practice principles to be considered as each jurisdiction develops and reviews its criminal law, policy and practices. The ACT Government consulted with targeted stakeholders on key aspects of the offence structure including definitions of terms and compliance with the Criminal Code 2002 in relation to the private members bill, Crimes (Intimate Image Abuse) Amendment Bill, introduced in the Legislative Assembly on 7 June 2017. This consultation informed the government’s position on the private members bill, including government amendments to the Bill. |
The Bail Review Power | A new bail review power commenced on 1 May 2017. Under the power the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has two hours to request a review of a bail decision made by a Magistrate or a Judge. The bail decision is stayed for up to 48 hours unless the DPP does not proceed with the review application or the Supreme Court determines the application earlier. The review power is only available to the DPP in relation to certain serious offences and family violence offences. The right to review will only be exercised in exceptional cases where it is in the public interest that a review of the bail decision should occur. The overriding consideration is the safety of the community and in particular, the safety of a complainant or other witnesses. Consultation occurred with the DPP, ACT Law Courts and Tribunal, ACT Corrective Services, Human Rights Commission and other relevant justice stakeholders in the development of the power as part of the Crimes (Serious and Organised Crime) Legislation Amendment Bill 2016. The new bail review power will be reviewed after two years of operation in May 2019. |
Inspectorate of Custodial Services | In May 2017 and June 2017, JACS organised stakeholder consultation meetings with Dr John Paget, former NSW Inspector of Custodial Services, to assist in the development of a suitable model of oversight for the ACT in line with the government’s response to the ‘So Much Sadness in our Lives’ Moss Report. The Minister for Corrections wrote to targeted stakeholders on 9 June 2017 seeking comment and feedback on a proposed Inspectorate model. The government is still considering the role, function and scope of the Inspectorate of Custodial Services as part of ongoing targeted consultation with stakeholders. |
The Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission held a significantly higher number of community engagement activities in 2016-17 reflecting the formation of the new Commission. There were 57 different community engagement activities held throughout the year, a substantial increase on the expected number of events.
Project | Summary |
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Launch of New ACT Human Rights Commission | To mark the launch of the new, expanded ACT Human Rights Commission an event was held at its new office on 24 August 2016. The event involved a dedication of the Commission’s Conference Room named in honour of ACT victim of crime Clea Rose. About 140 people attended including Ms Rose’s parents Frances Rose and Ross Dunn, ACT Attorney General Simon Corbell and ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Chris Bourke. |
UNDRIP Anniversary | On 13 September 2016, the Commission marked the 9th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a screening at the National Film and Sound Archive of Putuparri and the Rainmakers. Co-hosted with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, the event was attended by around 150 people including ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Chris Bourke and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Elected Body Chair Ross Fowler and Member Maurice Walker. |
Human Rights and Gendered Violence International Human Rights Day Forum | On 9 December 2016, the Commission co-hosted a community forum with Amnesty International ACT/NSW to mark International Human Rights Day 2016 held at the ACT Legislative Assembly. Louise Taylor, Deputy CEO ACT Legal Aid, Jo Wood, ACT Coordinator-General for Family Safety, Nishara Fallon, Amnesty International ACT/NSW Coordinator joined ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey in discussion with President and Human Rights Commissioner Helen Watchirs acting as MC. More than 135 people attended. |
Launch of Everyone Can Play: Guidelines for Local Clubs on Best Practice for Inclusion of Transgender and Intersex Participants. | The Human Rights Commission worked with A Gender Agenda, the Australian Sports Commission, ACT Sport and Recreation Services and community stakeholders representing transgender and intersex people to develop the guidelines to build a safe and inclusive response to everyone wanting to play. Research shows that participation in sport is an important contributor to individual well being and that sports benefit from increasing diversity in their participant profile. However, discrimination adversely affects many intersex and transgender people’s enjoyment of sport and prevents them from participating. Everyone Can Play was launched in collaboration with A Gender Agenda on 6 April 2017. |
Social Exclusion and Violent Extremism Report | In October 2016, the Commission released the report If only we had asked him to play soccer. A report on the outcomes of discussions with ACT school students about social exclusion and violent extremism. Consultations for the report sought young people’s views about why some become involved in violent extremism and prevention. Fifteen consultation sessions were held across eight ACT Public Schools and non-government schools involving a total of 206 students. |
Life Transitions: What Do Children Say | The Children and Young People Commissioner’s team designed the Life Transitions: What Do Children Say project in collaboration with several ACT primary schools. As part of the project more than 600 young people participated in a Commission survey at the Canberra Careers Expo 2016 about their future and career. The survey was repeated at the Youth Week Festival at Harrison School in March 2017 with 70 young people participating. |
Discrimination Act Training | The Commission dedicated resources to raising awareness about the Discrimination Act 1991 including amendments to the Act on religious vilification and disability that came into force in August 2016 and further amendments that expanded and improved discrimination protections that came into force in April 2017. On 9 November 2016 the Commission delivered tailored training on Disability Awareness and Discrimination. The Commission delivered Re-introducing ACT Discrimination Law training on 7 December 2016. Training on Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying was delivered 25 September 2016 and 29 March 2017. Three Opening up Equality in the ACT: The New Discrimination Grounds and Beyond training sessions were held on 7, 22 and 30 June 2017. |
Human Rights Training | The Commission provided Introduction to the Human Rights Act training sessions to ACT Corrective Services staff on 8 November 2016. Tailored sessions on the Human Rights Act 2004 were delivered to ACT Policing Executive and Policy staff on 24 November 2016 and 1 June 2017. |
Health Records Training | The Commission provided tailored three-hour training sessions about rights and responsibilities under the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 2007 for consumers and health service providers. About 60 people attended these training sessions in 2016-17. |
Child and Youth Protection Training | The Victims of Crime Commissioner delivered training on his role to Child and Youth Protection services staff on 19 September 2016. |
Financial Assistance Scheme Training | A large part of the 2016-17 year was dedicated to raising awareness about the changes to the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) through various community engagement activities. In total 404 people were briefed on the FAS in 2016-17 including the following key stakeholders:
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Legal Aid
Community Legal Education (CLE) encompasses a range of activities that promote Legal Aid’s services.
Project | Summary |
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Outreaches | Outreach assists people in the community. Outreach was held at:
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Stalls | Stalls held at local events, including:
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Free Information Sessions | 24 information sessions were held for members of the public on family law topics, driving under the influence and licensing matters. Sessions were busy with at least 10 people attending each session. |
Radio | Fortnightly radio sessions on local ValleyFM 89.5 discussing a range of legal topics from police powers to family law. |
Law for Non-Lawyers | Presentations were held on 16 different legal topics for the law for non-lawyers series. Topics included: employment law; renting; family law; forced labour; and human rights. Registrations continue to increase for these sessions with approximately 50 people attending each one. |
Social Media | Legal Aid’s social media presence increased with dedicated staff time ensuring better connection to the public via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. |
Networking | Networking is crucial to the community education work undertaken. CLE involved in the Northern Region Networking Interagency, the local and national Community Legal Education Network. CLE worked closely on a number of projects with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and the Migrant Refugee Settlement Service |
Elder Abuse | An increase in demand for information on elder abuse from:
A forum was held with an expert panel discussing the issue of accessing and supporting people experiencing abuse. |
Family Violence | The laws in the ACT changed on 1 May 2017. The CLE delivered six sessions on the changes to the law to the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, Child Youth and Protection Service. A forum was held in the City and one held in Tuggeranong and around 170 people attended these two forums. The CLE also held a training session for specifically for lawyers. |
Youth | Presentations delivered at colleges across Canberra, including: Canberra, Radford, Gungahlin, St Clares, Narrabundah, Erindale, Melba-Copland, Dickson and Daramalan. CLE also spoke at Belconnen High School and the Australian Catholic University. |