Justice Services

The Yarrabah Community Justice Group (YCJG) ensure that all people appearing before the Yarrabah Magistrates Court are appropriately supported through all phases of the Justice process.

Yarrabah Community Justice Group has been around for almost 30 years and originally sat with the Yarrabah Council (Community Service Act changed). It was transferred to Gurriny as auspice and then onto Gindaja in 2015. In June 2020, Department of Justice Attorney-General changed the format for funding. Gindaja tendered for and won, the contract for the ‘Yarrabah Justice Service’.

In 2020 the Yarrabah Community Justice Group agreed upon a vision for the future. The group proposed a mid to long-term future where ‘Justice’ would function as an independent body that would be capable of providing a range of tailored justice support service to the local community, including a youth and a family violence specific response.

The YCJG and Gindaja together designed and developed a new model to deliver justice services in Yarrabah:

• The traditional model of a single ‘Justice Group Coordinator’ was revised & redeveloped into 2 separate roles.
• An overarching ‘Coordinator’ position was created that would take the lead and drive the new model.
• The reinvented ‘Justice Group Officer’ would deliver the grass roots services to Yarrabah locals.

The YCJG has the following legal functions (as per the Justice, Land and Other Matters Act 1984)

• Taking part in court hearings, sentencing and bail processes as provided for in the relevant Acts.

• Developing networks with relevant agencies to ensure crime prevention, justice, community corrections and related issues impacting on Indigenous communities are appropriately addressed.

• Supporting victims and offenders at all stages of the legal process.

• Making recommendations to the Minister administrating the Liquor Act 1992, about declarations under part 6A.

• Conducting other functions given to it under this or another Act.