University of Sydney Justice Collaboration
The University of Sydney Justice Collaboration unites researchers, students, and partners to enhance justice systems and outcomes, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches.
This initiative spans research projects, publications, and events that engage with issues in criminal justice, youth justice, and rehabilitation.
The University of Sydney's Justice Collaboration aims to improve justice outcomes and to improve outcomes for all involved in criminal justice systems.
The University of Sydney has numerous strengths in this area and has a track record of work across disciplines, faculties and research centres directly and indirectly relevant to crime justice systems and those in conflict with the law.
Through a whole-of-university approach, the University of Sydney can have a significant positive impact on justice systems and outcomes.
The juvenile justice system is under constant critique. But in this, LLB student Julia Jacobson talks to Associate Professor Garner Clancy about why there is reason to have hope in the future of youth justice in Australia. With an emphasis on the need for innovation and interdisciplinarity in the study of law, this episode reflects on the relationship between theory and practice.
Learning from Prison-based Education Initiatives from Victoria and New South Wales
The University of Sydney Justice Collaboration is proud to be hosting (RMIT) for an in-person seminar. This seminar will explore prison-based education initiatives where university students learn alongside people who are incarcerated. Associate Professor Marietta Martinovic OAM and Dr Jed Evans (University of Sydney) will discuss their work in their respective jurisdictions, highlighting the considerable potential that universities can play in prisons and the very positive outcomes arising from this work. This event is open to the general public.
Date: 6 May 2025
Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
You can find out more about the event and register.
'Art Inside Prison': ABridges InsidePanel
Bridges Inside—an initiative run by Collaboration members Dr Jedidiah Evans and Dr Sam Shpall in partnership with HDR students Lily Patchett and Amie Doan—is hosting ‘Art Inside Prison,’a panel discussion on the value, history, and potential of artistic practice in prisons. The panel will feature three special guests:, Co-director of Boom Gate Gallery;, Gamilroi poet and folklorist; andToby Martin, songwriter, musician, and cultural historian. All three will speak about their experiences working in and around carceral spaces to consider the broader question of what role the arts play in places of unfreedom.
The panel will be followed by complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to chat.
Date: Thursday 8 May 2025
Time: 4:00-6:00pm
Register
Looking back - Moving Forward - Tour the former Youth Detention Centre at Haberfield
is providing USYD students and staff with an opportunity to tour a former detention centre and to meet staff working in different parts of the youth justice system. Those attending will see the old cells at , which was formerly the Young Women in Custody program, and learn about contemporary features of the youth justice system. This will be valuable for those looking to work in criminal justice or related fields. The tour is free and will take approximately two hours.
Date: Friday 16 May 2025
Time: 12-2pm or 1-3pm
Register for a free tour .
Insights from the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies
The Justice Collaboration is excited to host the Co-Directors of the . Dr Paul Gray (Co-Director) and Dr Deborah Jump (Co-Director) will talk about the work of the MCYS. Established in 2014 (by Professor Hannah Smithson), the MCYS has established itself as an internationally recognised research centre, known for its innovative methodological approaches to working with young people. MCYS has a particular focus on young people in youth justice systems and young people’s mental health.
In addition to hearing about the work of the MCYS, Dr Gray will discuss his research into violence and substance use, and Dr Jump will discuss her research focused on violence against women and girls, and young people’s mental health.
Date: Tuesday 27 May 2025
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
You can find out more about the event and register .
Numerous University of Sydney staff have direct or indirect interest or experience in justice systems; a small number have come together to establish the Justice Collaboration.
Brenda Lin
PhD candidate, The University of Sydney Law School
Operationalisation of the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) approach to rehabilitation in NSW Youth Justice Centres through the exploration of a staff induction training course.
Laura Metcalfe
PhD candidate, The University of Sydney Law School
The Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility in NSW: Examining the operation of doli incapax and implications of reform.
Luke Strong
PhD candidate, Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
Restorative sound environments in adult and youth correctional facilities: Architectural considerations for the design of prisons.
Susan Morley
Master of Design candidate, Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
Improving rehabilitation outcomes: Using gamification as an effective intervention approach for young offenders in NSW.
Gabriel McGuire is a fourth-year law student at the University of Sydney. He has recently completed an honours in philosophy, writing his thesis on the justifiability of juvenile incarceration:.
The Justice Collaboration was recently shortlisted for an AFR Higher Education Award for our community engagement work. This is a testament to the great work by hundreds of staff and students over the last few years. More about the category and our nomination can be found.
Some of the many justice-related projects currently running at the University of Sydney:
A small team from the University of Sydney in partnership with colleagues in industry, has come together to explore the role of Accredited Exercise Physiologists in criminal justice settings. With significant levels of mental illness, disabilities and diverse health needs, inmates and detainees are likely to benefit greatly from services provided Accredited Exercise Physiologists within their scope of practice and as part of multidisciplinary approach to health care. The team has facilitated two student projects as part of the Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science’s Project-Based Learning Initiative in youth justice settings focusing on exercise delivery within high-risk youth while another group focused on presenting a value analysis of Exercise Physiology within justice system more broadly. Other groups of students have engaged with a forensic hospital where students designed exercise-focused education and activities with Indigenous consumers within the hospital. Through experiences gained via these placements, it is clear that Accredited Exercise Physiologists could play an important role in the growing work of Allied Health Professionals in criminal justice settings.The team is led byDr Timothy Daviesand includesProfessor Jeanette Thom,Associate Professor Gillian Nisbet,,Amanda Semaan, andAssociate Professor Garner Clancey.
Bridges Inside,an initiative ofCollaborationmembers Dr Jedidiah Evans and Dr Sam Shpall — in partnership with HDR students Lily Patchett and Amie Doan - returns for 2025.Bridges Insideis a forum for students, community members, and academics interested in examining prisonjusticealongside philosophy and literature. From April to June 2025,Bridges Insideare discussing “Women and Prison.” Although the prison has historically been seen as a male-dominated space, women’s correctional facilities are seeing an increasing number of inmates. Together, participants explore the complicated relationship between gender and carcerality by examining the lived experiences of women inside.More information can be found on the project website -. Subscribe to the Bridges Inside newsletter .
This semester, students doing an Industry and Community Project Unit will be working on a project for NSW Police. Students from interdisciplinary backgrounds will explore the Young Offenders Act 1997 (NSW) to determine whether the Act effectively address the needs of today’s youth. Students will also investigate if the justice system appropriately differentiates between age groups within the 10–17 range, and how age influences children’s understanding of legal proceedings.
One Sydney Many People funding provided by the University of Sydney is supporting work focused on Closing the Gap Outcome 11, reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in youth detention.
In addition to these student placements, students have worked on various voluntary or for-credit projects. Some have included:
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