THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
MEDIA RELEASE
INDIGENOUS JUSTICE FUNDING CLOSES SOON
Organisations working with Indigenous communities to improve community safety and reduce adverse contact with the criminal justice system are encouraged to apply for a grant before the funding round closes on Friday next week.
The Indigenous Justice Program, funded by the Attorney-General's Department has around $10.8 million available to organisations in 2013-14 with the funding round closing on 15 February.
The program aims to support safer communities by reducing Indigenous offending, and through that, reduce Indigenous victimisation and incarceration.
'The Australian Government values organisations and community groups working to improve the lives of many Indigenous Australians and I encourage them to apply for funding under the Indigenous Justice Program,' Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC said.
'Programs that focus on improving community safety by reducing offending by Indigenous people form an important part of our funding programs.'
The Indigenous Justice Program has funded more than $80.2 million towards projects to reduce adverse contact of Indigenous Australians with the criminal justice system since July 2004.
'This program has funded a number of particular successful projects, including the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Indigenous Throughcare Service,' Mr Dreyfus said.
'NAAJA's Indigenous Throughcare Service provides strength-based individual case management and referral services to help people rebuild their lives when they are released from prison and to end what have often been long histories of offending.'
'Since NAAJA's Indigenous Throughcare Service commenced in early 2010, only 22 out of 168 clients were returned to prison while under the supervision of NAAJA officers.'
'It is my hope that there will be more projects like NAAJA's funded in 2013-14 with the potential to profoundly improve Indigenous people's lives.'
Organisations seeking funding under the Indigenous Justice Program can find further information on the Attorney-General's Department's website.
Applications must be submitted before the funding round closes on 15 February 2013.
FRIDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2013
