First Nations Justice Office
In 2023 the First Nations Justice Office (FNJO) was established within the Department of Justice.
We were established to:
- address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland’s criminal justice system
- meet Queensland’s National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) targets.
The justice targets are to reduce incarceration rates by 2031 of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults by at least 15% and young people by at least 30%.
We also support the Department of Justice’s commitment to reframing the relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples under the Public Sector Act 2022.
Most staff in our team are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Our cultural knowledge, connections, relationships and expertise across engagement, policy, communication, research, administration and projects allows our office to act as a conduit between government and community.
We are working on a number of priorities to achieve our objectives.
Justice reinvestment
The Queensland Government is supporting community-led, place-based justice reinvestment initiatives that will address the underlying causes of youth crime and reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-representation in our justice system.
Yarn Up events
The First Nations Justice Office leads and supports the delivery of Licensing Muster events around Queensland.
Stories of Change
The First Nations Justice Office (FNJO) has partnered with the Queensland Government Statisticians Office to deliver Queensland’s Stories of Change project.
Domestic and family violence
The First Nations Justice Office established domestic and family violence as a key priority in response to recommendations of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence.
Justice Policy Partnership
The First Nations Justice Office supports and participates in the Justice Policy Partnership (JPP).
Better Justice Together strategy
Learn about the Better Justice Together: Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice strategy 2024–2031, Queensland’s new plan to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the justice system.
Review of cultural safety in criminal justice settings
The First Nations Justice Office leads the Queensland Government’s response to Recommendation 9.3 of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.