Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool
Recent Arrivals to Australia

This project has been endorsed by the Law Council of Australia.

Priorities Identified in the Justice Project Final Report[i]:

1. Work with recent arrival communities to build their legal literacy and general knowledge of the Australian system of law and government during the initial settlement and later phases.
2. Ensure that information about the law, particularly regarding key legal issues experienced by recent arrivals, is provided in a range of languages, as well as Easy English, and is available in a range of accessible modes (radio, audio-visual, face-to-face, peer-to-peer, as well as printed and online material).
3. Ensure that free, appropriately skilled interpreters are available to assist recent arrivals at every stage of their interaction with the justice system, in line with the Judicial Council of Cultural Diversity’s best practice guidelines.
4. Prioritise face-to-face, intensive and free assistance allowing additional time for services (eg client appointments or court services) to meet recent arrivals’ needs including in civil matters such as employment, housing and tenancy and consumer issues.
5. Expand employment of cultural or community liaison officers in legal assistance services, courts and tribunals and other key justice sector players (e.g., police) to build trust amongst recent arrival populations.
6. Expand access to free specialised legal assistance in RRR areas with high recent arrival populations, including through outreach or referral networks.
7. Resource key justice sector players (legal assistance services, courts and tribunals, police, administrative departments) to increase their cultural competence and cultural diversity.
8. Support collaborations to build multi-disciplinary knowledge and referrals between legal and non-legal organisations, such as settlement/migrant services.
9. Increase independent accountability mechanisms to overcome concerns about under- and over-policing of recent arrivals.
10. Address a lack of secure, low-cost housing for recent arrivals, as this can exacerbate associated legal problems with landlords.
11. Address gaps in evidence about recent arrivals, their legal needs and their experiences of the justice system, including through targeted surveys and research, and improved justice data collection which better captures the cultural, linguistic and gender diversity of users as well as their outcomes.

Justice Project Infographic

• Justice Project Report Infographic