NSW Drug Court Evaluation: Positive outcomes for common clients across Justice and Community Services

Tuesday 24 June 2025 12:00pm-1:00pm AEST , online via MS Teams

Hosted by Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR) in collaboration with the Bureau Of Crime Statistics And Research (BOCSAR).

Details

In this FACSIAR Lunch and Learn webinar, Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director, BOCSAR, will discuss the consolidation of critical services under the Department of Communities and Justice, highlighting how this integration encourages a holistic view of clients' interactions across various human services. She will share valuable insights into the overlapping areas of child protection, out-of-home care, criminal victimisation, offending, custody, public housing, and homelessness, emphasising the common clients served by these services. Following this, Professor Don Weatherburn from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW will present the findings of the recent NSW Drug Court evaluation. The Drug Court aims to rehabilitate drug-dependent offenders through a structured program, significantly reducing reoffending rates and the likelihood of imprisonment. Professor Weatherburn will also discuss the broader social benefits, including a reduction in out-of-home care placements for children of participants.

Together, these presentations will provide an understanding of how addressing the needs of common clients across justice and community services can effectively tackle complex vulnerabilities and promote rehabilitation.

The webinar will be chaired by Jessica Stewart, Executive Director, FACSIAR, Department of Communities and Justice

Join us to learn more about:

NSW Drug Court Evaluation: Positive outcomes for common clients across Justice and Community Services

Presentations from:

Jackie Fitzgerald – Executive Director, BOCSAR, DCJ
Professor Don Weatherburn - National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW

Questions or comments?

Contact: ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au