In late 2013, this proposal was distributed to philanthropic, corporate and government sectors, many of whom have since come on board and who in March 2014 injected substantial funding and in-kind support to kickstart justice reinvestment in Bourke. Over the next two years in Bourke, the Just Reinvest team will develop a watertight case to demonstrate that justice reinvestment offers a real solution to Australian communities seeking to tackle problems around offending and incarceration, while at the same time creating alternate pathways for young people.
Bourke Justice Reinvestment Project Team
Alistair Ferguson, Executive Officer: Alistair is the Executive Officer in Community Development, and will be based in Bourke over the two-year project period. For the last ten years he has been the Chairperson of the Bourke Aboriginal Community Working Party (BACWP). Key to Alistair’s community development is the belief in seeing communities truly empowered and taking responsibility for their own issues and plight. The position of Executive Officer is funded by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and the Dusseldorp Forum.
Cath Brokenborough, Facilitator: Lendlease is releasing Cath to fill the role of external facilitator, to be based in Bourke three days per month. Cath is Chair of Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation at Lend Lease and has had a long involvement with the Bourke Housing project. Cath has the authority and capacity to reach within Lend Lease to secure additional skills and time should that be required at various stages of the work.
Data Manager, Aboriginal Affairs NSW: Aboriginal Affairs NSW has agreed to provide an in-house data manager to coordinate the collection and collation of data on Bourke.
Data Reference Group: A data reference group has been established and includes representatives from University of NSW (UNSW), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). As the project’s university partner, UNSW will further provide advice on best practice responses to achieve the agreed shared measures.
Economic Modelling Team: Over the next two years, KPMG will lead the work of costing the implementation of justice reinvestment in Bourke. They will also produce economic modelling of the cost savings for government observers.
Sarah Hopkins, Project Coordinator: The project will be coordinated by Sarah who is the Chair of Just Reinvest NSW.
Kerry Graham, Consultant: Kerry has agreed to provide critical advice on the collective impact framework.
