National Rural/Regional Law and Justice Conference

The inaugural National Rural/Regional Law and Justice Conference, opened by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, The Honourable Justice Robert French, was a major success.

The conference was attended by over 100 delegates representing approximately 50 organisations from all States and Territories with representation across federal, state and local government, industry, legal practitioners, academics, Legal Aid, Community Legal Services, Indigenous, Youth, and other regional advocacy and support services.

The aim of the conference was to influence and shape the direction of policy and debate on the provision of justice system services to regional Australia. The conference highlighted initiatives currently being undertaken in rural and regional Australia and focused attention on the areas of greatest need now and in the future. The conference program [201KB PDF] is available to be viewed.

Twenty-one conference papers were delivered across 3 broad themes of:

• Social Justice Issues - Engaging communities, government and legal service providers in influencing social justice outcomes for rural and regional Australians.
• Legal Practice - Exploration of issues and innovations in legal practice in rural and regional Australia.
• Legal Service Systems - Making legal services and systems relevant, accessible and equitable for rural and regional Australians.

The conference was solution focused, with the aim of increasing attention on improving delivery of appropriate justice system services to rural and regional Australia.

• Keynote speakers at the conference:
  • Dr Lisa Pruitt, Professor of Law, University of California;
  • Mr Alex Ward, President Elect, Law Council of Australia; and
  • Professor Daniela Stehlik, Director, The Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory.
• Session speakers including access to conference abstracts/papers