Latest Update – April 2026
The First Nations Justice Branch (FNJB) within the Justice and Community Safety (JACS) Directorate held their first Commissioning 'Diversion from Custody' workshop at Boomanulla Oval in July 2024 with 55 participants. The second workshop 'Diversion from the Justice System’ was held at the Arboretum in February 2025 with 61 participants, followed by the final 'Breaking the Cycle' workshop in June 2025 at the Yarramundi Cultural Centre with 82 participants.
These workshops focused on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander client’s journey through the ACT justice system. This includes being diverted away from the justice system upon police interaction, formal diversion options like Restorative Justice and Drug Diversion, and informal diversion options like community crime prevention programs. Diversion from custody options for clients already in the court system include bail and community-based sentencing options and breaking the cycle of reoffending which focused on supporting clients post-release to successfully reintegrate into Community.
Listening reports from these workshops are circulated to all relevant stakeholders. A select working group from each workshop focuses on the Listening report recommendations to establish actions that can be progressed in business cases aimed at securing funding to strengthen existing FNJB programs and support the development of new programs and services.
The Diversion from the Justice System working group has met 3 times and FNJB are progressing relevant actions.
The Diversion from Custody working group has met 3 times and FNJB are progressing relevant actions.
The Breaking the Cycle workshop working group has met 3 times and FNJB are progressing relevant actions.
A final draft Design report, consolidating the recommendations from all three workshops and working groups, is currently being finalised for release to community. This final report documents 72 recommendations drawn from 201 community and stakeholder comments, with many non-controversial recommendations already complete or underway. Not all recommendations within the Report can be addressed immediately. Some longer-term, systemic actions requiring additional investment will be addressed through the ACT Government's Implementation Plan in response to the Independent Review into the Over-Representation of First Nations People in the ACT Criminal Justice System (Jumbunna Report), and some are being addressed as specific actions under the Phase 3 Action Plan of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028.
A future ‘Invest’ phase report will update community on progress against these remaining actions.
For more information on the JACS Commissioning process please email JACSFirstNationsJusticePrograms@act.gov.au
Cycle: 1
Commissioner: Justice and Community Safety
The commissioning approach for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Programs involves working collaboratively with sector partners, and people with lived experience to plan, design and deliver the best services for the Canberra community.
Current status: Design phase
The Discovery phase is now completed.
We:
- asked what do we already know? What questions do we need to explore?
- identified who could be involved in the commissioning cycle
- planned the timings of the commissioning cycle through to delivery
- planned engagement and collaboration activities and timings that are appropriate and culturally sensitive
- established the webpage to keep participants informed
- circulated listening reports
- convened representative working groups to determine actions from recommendations.
Background
The First Nations Justice Branch (FNJB) currently funds 7 long-term justice support programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the ACT and 2 shorter term trials.
The FNJB and the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community are committed to ensuring the current suite of support programs continue to meet the needs of our Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing disadvantage.
The FNJB is undertaking a structured commissioning process to improve service delivery and sector sustainability. JACS will work with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community to examine 3 phases of the justice cycle, strengthen existing measures, and collaborate on solutions to identified gaps to inform business cases for new initiatives. The identified phases are:
- Diversion from the Justice System
- Diversion from Custody
- Breaking the Cycle.
Engagement and collaboration
The Commissioner (Justice and Community Safety Directorate) is getting ready to engage with service providers, partners, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait community, and people with lived/living experience of justice support programs.
The First Nations Justice Branch within JACS is the Commissioner and will be the central team for community consultation in the development and contract management of most justice related programs delivered to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult community in the ACT.
Collaborating with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, JACS will develop appropriate and culturally sensitive participation opportunities to support the conversations and collaborations that can reshape the justice support programs in the ACT.
Engagement and collaboration activities will help identify program requirements and assess the needs of the Commissioner and the community for effective justice programs.
What we looked at, listened to, and shared
We asked for insights, perspectives, and experiences to help us understand:
- what is working well and how this could be strengthened
- what service gaps exist
- new and emerging needs for groups identified for targeted services
- how to design meaningful measures and indicators
- the lived experiences of people accessing services
- solutions, ideas, or innovations that could meet service needs
- how to develop better linkages and coordination across service delivery.
Who is involved
We will be seeking insights, perspectives, and experiences from a wide range of people including those with lived/living experience of justice support programs as well as service providers, partners, and the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait community.
We will use these views to:
- understand where there are service gaps and create opportunities to address them
- refine outcomes in line with the ACT Wellbeing Framework
- design and improve service requirements and service models
- inform contractual principles and approach for new partnership agreements.
Related commissioning cycles
We are listening to, connecting with, and drawing from active commissioning cycles:
Key documents
Diversion from Justice – workshop 1
Diversion from Custody – workshop 2
Breaking the Cycle - Workshop 3
Key links
We are referencing the following plans, strategies, and frameworks in this cycle:
Page updated: 06 May 2026
