Two new animations from Open Circle and TAC explain the benefits of restorative justice
When recovering from road trauma, many people find that medical care alone isn't enough.
The healing process can also benefit from emotional and psychological support, and a consideration of what justice looks and feels like for a person involved in a serious accident or collision. This is where restorative justice can make a significant difference.
When Open Circle and TAC opened referrals to our new restorative justice program in September 2024, we wanted to make sure TAC clients understood how the program could support their recovery from road trauma.
The program offers people the opportunity to connect, communicate, and heal in ways that the traditional justice system may not address. Participants can explore the emotional or psychological aspects of recovery that aren’t met through criminal justice processes by meeting with another person involved in the accident or sharing their story with others.
“Many people want to talk about their experience and have the other person involved in the accident understand what they have been through,” says Katie Christensen, lead facilitator for the program. “They are keen to tell their story in the hope that it prevents a similar thing from happening to someone else.”
To help people better understand the concepts of restorative justice and justice needs, we teamed up with video production company Creativa to bring restorative justice to life through these clear, accessible animations.
“Restorative justice can mean different things in different contexts,” says Melanie Joosten, TAC Restorative Justice Program Manager. “We want to help potential participants understand what the program offers so they can decide if might be of benefit to them.”
Working with animators was a good opportunity to think about the language used when discussing road trauma and the immense physical and psychological impacts that can be experienced by people involved in accidents.
Using clear, accessible animations the videos explain the benefits of restorative justice in the context of road trauma and introduce the language of justice needs. These are needs people might have after an accident that are not met by traditional criminal justice or legal responses.
“Some people are looking for an apology or some sense of accountability from the other driver, while some drivers want to express their remorse for causing the accident.”
To find out more about the program and register your interest, visit: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/clients/supporting-your-recovery/restorative-justice
To read more about Open Circle and restorative justice, visit: www.cij.org.au/opencircle/