The National Justice Project

The National Justice Project (NJP) is a not-for-profit human rights legal service based in Australia, focused on promoting social justice and combating disadvantage and discrimination. Established as a strategic legal action organization, it works to create a fair and equitable society by eradicating systemic discrimination through various avenues, including litigation, education, and advocacy.

Mission and Objectives

The NJP's mission is to fight for justice, fairness, and inclusivity by challenging and eradicating institutional discrimination. They achieve this by collaborating with clients and partners to drive systemic change and amplify the voices of communities affected by government inaction or harm.

Key Areas of Focus

1. Health Justice: Providing legal support and advocacy for individuals with disabilities and First Nations communities to ensure their rights are protected within the healthcare system.
2. Police and Corrections Misconduct: Challenging misconduct in police services, prisons, and youth detention facilities to ensure accountability and justice for those harmed.
3. Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support: Representing asylum seekers and refugees, advocating for their rights and challenging harmful policies and practices.

Approach

The NJP undertakes strategic legal action, including public interest litigation to achieve law reform, policy changes, and improved services. It also delivers social justice education for legal professionals and the community, focusing on practice-inspired and transformative learning experiences. Additionally, the organization supports grassroots advocacy based on rigorous research to highlight and address systemic issues such as racial and gender bias.

Governance

The National Justice Project is governed by a board of directors that includes legal experts, academics, and social justice advocates. George Newhouse serves as the Principal Solicitor and is an adjunct professor at Macquarie University Law School. Other key members of the governance team include David Radcliff as Chairperson and Elizabeth O'Shea, among others.

Financial Independence

The NJP remains financially independent from government funding, relying on community support, philanthropy, and business donations. This independence allows it to pursue cases and advocacy without external influence, focusing solely on its mission of promoting justice and equity. In 2024, the organization received more than $2.2 million in donations and provided over 10,000 hours of pro bono legal support to clients.

Impact

Through its work, the NJP impacts various sectors, including prisons, policing, healthcare, and immigration detention. It also operates a social justice clinic at Macquarie University, providing hands-on experience for law students interested in public interest law. This educational component prepares future legal professionals for careers in social justice advocacy.

Community Engagement

The NJP engages with the community through legal cases, training programs for law students, and support for volunteers involved in legal, project, and administrative roles. This engagement helps foster a broader understanding of systemic discrimination and the importance of legal action in creating a more just society.

[1] https://www.justice.org.au [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Justice_Project [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/87ba9a75-3aaf-e811-a961-000d3ad24182 [4] https://www.instagram.com/nationaljusticeproject_au/ [5] https://www.alrc.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/44.-National-Justice-Project.pdf