What is this project about?
Coming together as Aboriginal communities of the South West region to apply for justice reinvestment or philanthropic funding to continue the work of the Yallum Yallum Elders and Respected Persons Council and adapt and expand it to other interested communities.
Who is involved?
- Uncle Lenny Clarke and the Shara Clarke Aboriginal Culture Education Centre
- RMIT University including Yulendj Weelam Lab and the Centre for Innovative Justice
Uncle Lenny at The Shara Clarke Aboriginal Culture & Education Centre
What is justice reinvestment?
Justice reinvestment is a long-term, community-led approach that aims to prevent crime, address the drivers of contact with the justice system, and improve justice outcomes for First Nations peoples in a particular place or community.
What is justice reinvestment funding?
The government committed $69 million over 4 years (from 2022–23) to establish a National Justice Reinvestment Program to support up to 30 community-led justice reinvestment initiatives, with ongoing funding of $20 million per year from 2026–27.
What is the Yallum Yallum Elders and Respected Persons Council?
The Yallum Yallum Elders and Respected Persons Council is a group of Elders and Respected Persons who provide guidance and form an agreement with participants to strengthen cultural connection and identity and to explore, address and repair harm related to their behavior.
The Council is an independent and self-determining justice model that promotes cultural healing, social and emotional wellbeing, and a stronger role in culture and community. Yallum Yallum diverts Aboriginal people away from the criminal justice system and reduces over representation in the justice system.
The Council is a pilot program funded by Grampians RAJAC and managed and implemented by Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative based in Horsham.
Looking to expand the model of self determination for other communities
How could this model be expanded?
Other communities are interested in taking this model and adapting it to the needs of their own communities.
Uncle Lenny Clarke and the Shara Clark Aboriginal Culture Education Centre are interested in creating an Elders and Respected Persons Council for the community in the South West region that integrates music and the arts to enable cultural healing.
What next?
If you support this idea, we would love to record your support, and hear more about how it could assist your community.
If you are interested in being part of the funding proposal for expansion of this model, please get in touch with us via email.
Please contact either:
- Stan Winford at kristann.winford@rmit.edu.au OR
- Jen Black at jen.black@rmit.edu.au
We will update you on the next steps in this project and invite you to participate.
