Justice Advocacy Service

⁠⁠⁠Historically, Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC) provided funds to a number of non-government organisations to deliver advocacy and legal supports to people with intellectual disability in contact with the criminal justice system.

The roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) across NSW has provided an opportunity to broaden the scope of the program, to deliver the service state wide to people with cognitive impairment at all stages of contact with the criminal justice system, including as victims, witnesses and defendants. The primary purpose of the Justice Advocacy Service is to ensure that people with cognitive impairment in contact with the criminal justice system are able to exercise their rights and fully participate in the process.

Scope

The service to be supplied will be the provision of support personnel (either paid staff or volunteers) by a non-government organisation or non-government consortium, to support people with cognitive impairment who are in contact with the NSW criminal justice system.

The service will have six core functions:
* Supports for suspects with cognitive impairment in police custody
* Supports for victims and witnesses with cognitive impairment when interacting with police
* Supports for people with cognitive impairment attending court
* Supports for people with cognitive impairment attending legal appointments
* Training for justice agency staff on working with people with cognitive impairment in contact with the criminal justice system
* Capacity building and peer mentoring for people with cognitive impairment in contact with the criminal justice system

The service will be available state wide, including rural, regional and remote communities, concentrated in NSW Police Force Regions, Commands and Districts and around central court locations.

Essential Experience
* Prior experience/knowledge of cognitive impairment and criminal justice system
* Prior experience/knowledge of intersecting and complex needs
* Ability to provide state wide coverage

Location

These services will be provided across NSW, including rural, regional and remote areas.