Inclusive Justice
People with disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the Australian justice system and often describe court or tribunal proceedings as stressful and confusing.
For many people with cognitive disability, this is compounded by additional communication and support needs resulting in lack of participation and a traumatising experience.
The Centre for Innovative Justice (CIJ) is partnering with the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID) and the Social Policy Group (SPG) to deliver a project that will develop a National Framework for judicial officers and tribunal members to make the justice system accessible for people with cognitive disability.
Funded by the Australian Government as part of its Reducing Harm Towards People with Disability through Increased Inclusion and Participation measure, the project will bring together people with cognitive disability and judicial officers and tribunal members from across Australia to co-produce the National Framework as well as training initiatives to support its implementation.
The project is being overseen by a Lived Experience Advisory Committee and will also aim to facilitate learning through the co-production process itself by drawing on principles of universal design to contribute to an accessible justice system that supports all people to better participate, including people with disability.