Community info session: Community based restorative practice project, Central Coast, Hunter and New England

Transforming Justice offers support to anyone in the country and for the past two years – we have accepted referrals and community engagement from services and people nationally. 

Recently we have been supported by the Hunter Central Coast and New England PHN to offer our support and accept referrals into our programs from within this region.  

For the first time, we have the ability to accept referrals and support community engagement in a specific region. 

We will be holding a community information session (online) in June 2025 to talk about our work and to talk about this new initiative which we are calling "A community based restorative practice project".

What will the session cover? 
This will be an opportunity for organisations, services, individuals and networks to learn about the work TJA does in the community and to consider how engaging in the community based practice project may support the needs of their community and clients. 

This event could be an opportunity for future engagement between TJA and stakeholders in the region which could open pathways for referrals and step 2 and 3 involving listening, learning and solidarity circles.

Participation in the community based restorative practice project

Participation in the project is voluntary and responsive to community need. 

TJA will work with interested communities to: 

• Attend an online information session about Transforming Justice  

• Identify their hopes, needs and existing resources 

• Offer and participate in community listening circles, training and support 

• Provide information and resources on facilitating Solidarity Circles for survivors of sexual harm 

• Facilitate an education and support group program for people responsible for harm plus provide casework to support participation  

• At the end of the project develop a HNE community resource or toolkit to support future restorative justice initiatives 

In return, Transforming Justice will:  

•  Engage in community led data sovereignty 

• Accept referrals into any of the programs and supports offered by Transforming Justice  

• Commit to seeking permission from elders and community members to work in this region,  

• Offer to share our knowledge of restorative responses to sexual harm  

• Codesign a localised community resource or toolkit to support future responses to sexual harm including restorative justice initiatives 

• Community mapping responses to sexual harm across locations, to further development of existing, pathways or available support across regions.  

We look forward to connecting with you online or in person soon. 

Melissa Brown, Sam Ivancsik and Thea Deakin-Greenwood
Transforming Justice Australia