FINE DEFAULT LAW REFORM

From 2017- 2020, successfully campaigning to end imprisonment for unpaid fines in WA, and introduce alternatives including a WDP scheme by securing cross-party support through advocacy, input into development and review of draft legislation, a community awareness campaign.

Including:
Securing support for reform from MPs from multiple parties including Liberals, Labor, Nationals, Greens, and One Nation; Input into development, and reviews of the draft legislation including introduction of a Statutory Principle protecting people in hardship from undue punishment; Hundreds of letters to MPs, multiple ministerial meetings, a public petition, 2 discussion papers, countless presentations, and community organising.

AMPLIFYING LIVED EXPERIENCE VOICES & STORIES FROM THE INSIDE PODCAST

Producing Stories from the Inside, a two season podcast with over 10k listens, a video short series, and booklet, that shares the firsthand life stories and experiences of people who have been in WA’s justice system in their own words.

This series puts human stories back in to the justice system to the WA public and reframes the narrative about who the people who commit crimes are in our community and why they do it, highlighting the need for alternative solutions; The podcast series has been listened to over 10,000 times and made Apples New and Noteworthy Recommendations page when launched.

SUPPORTING JUSTICE REINVESTMENT IN WA

Championing the development of Justice Reinvestment in WA through supporting communities to develop place based initiatives; Communicating, documenting, publicizing alternative justice solutions to decision makers and the wider public; Advocating and engaging stakeholders to secure progress and public commitments to JR.

Including:
Walking alongside the communities in Halls Creek to support them in launching the state’s first Aboriginal community led, place based, justice reinvestment site; Securing a significant election funding commitment to the Olabud Doogethu work; Communicating, championing, and documenting JR work in WA and creating a suite of resources and tools as we support other communities adopt a similar approach across the state; and working with State government to develop systems that support these new approaches.

SECTOR COORDINATION FOR RAPID RESPONSES DURING COVID-19

Coordinating organisations operating in the WA justice sector in response to COVID, to ensure the rights and protection of people in the justice system and develop rapid solutions with government.

SRWA still engages in fortnightly ongoing meetings with the Department of Justice in this area, and produced a Community Services Sector Report reviewing the justice response at the beginning of the pandemic. SRWA Manager Chaired a COVID Youth Taskforce Subcommittee working with NGO’s, The Department of Communities, and WA Police to develop a Business Case for an Embedded Youth Outreach Proposal, to ensure local youth workers were part of the first responders approach when police come across at risk, street present children and young people.

RAISE THE AGE CAMPAIGN WORK THUS FAR

Currently leading the Raise the Age campaign in WA, and working for reform of the entire Youth Justice System, including advocacy to all state MPs and Key Ministers, mass public events, community organising, policy and solution development, and significant social media engagement and news media coverage.

Including:
Developing the Pathways to a Brighter Future Report endorsed by 74 organisation, RTAWA materials, and the yet to be launched Youth Justice Blueprint; Hosting community events including Raise the Age WA launch, Yarning Circles, Panels, and Movies Screenings attended by thousands of people across the state; Organising Community to contact WA MPs; Advocacy meetings with key Ministers, MPs, and government leaders; Significant Social Media engagement; and frequent coverage in News Media including the West Australian, ABC News and Radio, WA Today, NIT, and Channel 7; And successful adoption at the WA Labor Conference of a motion to support Raising the Age to 14;