Goal 16:
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Policy and Lawmakers Outreach and Education
The Centre for Law and Social Justice is a hub for research, teaching, engagement, and advocacy. Through its specialised programmes, the Centre partners with students, lawmakers, civil society organisations and community groups to deliver workshops, submissions, lectures, public reports, webinars, and collaborations.
In 2024 it undertook multiple activities aimed at upskilling, influencing policy, strengthening legal frameworks, and educating both law‑makers and the public on issues of law reform, human rights, and social justice. Activities such as:
- Hosted 14 events and attracted 650 attendees across all events and 100+ views on recorded events. These events include public lectures, panel discussions, online webinars, Q&A sessions, roundtables, youth forums, report launches, film screenings, and a symposium.
- Made a submission to a parliamentary inquiry - Inquiry into the Truth and Justice Commission Bill (2024) and received 25 citations in the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights - Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework Report.
- Hosted a delegation to NSW Parliament on the invitation of Trisha Doyle MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Heritage.
Law and Social Justice in 2024
See how the Centre delivers outreach, education, capacity‑building and supports policy/law‑makers:
- Submissions and Policy Advice
- The Centre made submissions to several parliamentary inquiries including:
‑ Inquiry into the Truth and Justice Commission Bill (2024) (co‑authored with Wakul Yabang Aboriginal Health Research Community Panel), recommending guiding principles for truth‑telling and oversight.
‑ Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework, recommending the enactment of a comprehensive Human Rights Act, including rights for refugees, people with disability, First Nations peoples, and other vulnerable communities.
- The Centre made submissions to several parliamentary inquiries including:
- Grants & Projects Supporting Capacity Building
- The Centre was awarded an ARC Mid‑Career Industry Fellowship to develop a national human rights index and related education programmes for policymakers and other stakeholders.
- It secured external collaboration funding to assist governments in small Pacific Island nations (Cook Islands and Samoa) in policy development. These involve capacity building for public officials and agencies in those nations.
- Events, Webinars, Lectures & Public Education
- Hosted the Justice Kirby Public Lecture 2024 (The Hon. Michael Kirby) at Newcastle City Hall, which is a public event likely attended by students, legal practitioners, community members, and policy‑makers.
- Collaborated with the Australian Human Rights Commission on the “Speaking from Experience Project” that aimed at raising awareness around workplace sexual harassment, particularly for under‑represented groups.
- The Centre also launched the “Right to Education in Australia” report in partnership with the Human Rights Law Centre, involving public discussion about what an enforceable Right to Education could mean for law and policy.
- Engagement with Civil Society & International Contexts
- Engagement with Samoa: the Centre built collaborative partnerships with government agencies and NGOs in Samoa, helping share research, policy tools, and legal knowledge.
- Participation in academic and community dialogues: The Centre supports webinars, panels and joint publications that inform law‑makers and civil society about issues such as human rights, migration, education law, and climate‑related social justice concerns. For example, involvement in Australia’s Human Rights Framework inquiry, which covers groups with vulnerabilities including refugees, persons with disability
Read our Annual Report 2024
Upcoming Events
Workshop
Foundations of Active Learning
Explore active learning teaching techniques to increase student engagement. Ascertain the benefits of active learning practice and determine when to employ active learning in the classroom.
Workshop
Retention Strategies Workshop
Retention strategies for teaching staff. Learn about retention strategies, analytics tools in Canvas and Panopto, and how to identify and support “at risk” students.
Workshop
Marking and Feedback
This workshop will focus on Marking and Feedback of Assessments. Participants will learn how to apply best practice in marking coursework assessments.
Event
Interactive Oral Assessments at Adelaide University
LDTI is pleased to welcome Adelaide University’s Dr Sarah Davey (Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences) and Dr Christopher Della Vedova (Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences) to discuss their experiences implementing interactive oral assessments.
Event
Rubrics Workshop (Callaghan)
This Rubrics workshop will cover the principles of using rubrics for assessment. Participants will learn how to construct a rubric that will support student learning and increase the efficiency and consistency of marking.
Workshop
Ed Tech for Active Learning
Explore the educational technology available to increase student engagement through active learning.
Workshop
Active Learning in Online Classrooms
Explore active learning teaching techniques to increase student engagement in online classrooms. Ascertain the benefits of active learning practice and determine when to employ active learning in the classroom.
Webinar
Using GenAI in Assessments: 7 Approaches for Students
This hands-on workshop is designed to empower educators to leverage generative AI as a tool to enhance student engagement, foster creativity, and strengthen constructive alignment in assessment practices.
Event
Leveraging GenAI for Assessment Design
How can AI help us design better assessment tasks? In this session, we'll explore key considerations when using AI to generate ideas for assessments, focusing on how to craft effective and meaningful tasks, and other important factors to ensure a
Workshop
Discussing GenAI in the Classroom
Participants will explore key considerations and policies for using GenAI, examine different use cases in the classroom, and discuss how to have conversations about GenAI with their students.
Webinar
AI in Action: Deep Research
The LDTI AI in Action sessions are an opportunity for staff to come together and discuss how they are using GenAI in their teaching, learning, and research. Each 30-minute session includes a brief demonstration and time for Q&A.
Webinar
AI in Action: AI-Augmented Expert Judgement in Assessment
The LDTI AI in Action sessions are an opportunity for staff to come together and discuss how they are using GenAI in their teaching, learning, and research. Each 30-minute session includes a brief demonstration and time for Q&A.
News
News • 28 Jul 2023
Long before women police officers came police 'matrons': who were they and what did they do?
This year marks a significant milestone for women in policing: the 125th anniversary of the first official recognition of a police matron in Australia. However, women worked in this role for at least 50 years before receiving official recognition.
News • 14 Jul 2023
Algorithmic Justice Symposium
On Friday 14 July 2023, the Centre for Law and Social Justice hosted its Algorithmic Justice Symposium at the University of Newcastle Sydney Campus.
News • 05 Jul 2023
Neil Foster: Common Law & Torts
Associate Professor Neil Foster was interviewed by ABC Local Radio’s Paul Turton, discussing the benefits and detriments of the common law of torts, and a leading case on “law and religion” issues involving the Jehovah’s Witnesses group during World War II.
News • 30 Jun 2023
Anti-LGBTQIA+ bills are at record highs in the US amid an upcoming election. Here's why
For those in the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride month is a chance to be out, loud and proud. But in the United States, there's been an uneasy quiet hanging over this June. Big brands who once didn't think twice about cashing in on the pink dollar have scaled back support.
News • 26 Jun 2023
Representation, Resistance and the Digiqueer
Dr Justin Ellis new book ‘Representation, Resistance and the Digiqueer - Fighting for Recognition in Technocratic Times’ is now available.
News • 26 Jun 2023
On William Tyrell's 12th birthday, police remain tight-lipped on one theory
Associate Professor Xanthe Mallett interviewed by ABC News about the William Tyrrell case.
News • 20 Jun 2023
Neil Foster: Significant Law Cases
Neil Foster was interviewed by Paul Turton on ABC Newcastle, to discuss significant law cases. The interview provides a comparison between legal systems in Australia and the United States.
News • 08 Jun 2023
Relief after long road
University of Newcastle Legal Centre director Shaun McCarthy, who has formerly acted as Ms Folbigg's instructing solicitor, said he had heard from many of the students who helped him work on her case between 2013 and 2017.
News • 06 Jun 2023
Kathleen Folbigg is free. But people pardoned and exonerated or crimes face unique challenges when released from prison
In 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of killing her four children. She has now been released from prison, 20 years later, after being pardoned by the Attorney General of New South Wales.
News • 05 Jun 2023
Minister's Roundtable on Refugee Education Migration Pathways
On Monday 5 June 2023, Associate Professor Amy Maguire represented the University of Newcastle at the Minister's Roundtable on Refugee Education Migration Pathways.
News • 05 Jun 2023
Folbigg pardon to "reignite" calls for better way for science to support legal process
Associate Professor Xanthe Mallett interviewed regarding the independent Criminal Case Commission in Australia.
News • 30 May 2023
Newcastle Migration Research Network
The Newcastle Migration Research Network, with the support of the Centre for Law and Social Justice, hosted its first event on the 30th of May. The Newcastle Migration Research Network is a team of researchers that facilitates inclusive forums for academics and practitioners to share knowledge regarding the resettlement experiences of refugees.
Past Events & Recordings
Next Steps for Human Rights Protection in Australia
On Monday 16 November 2024, The Australasian Human Rights Scholars' Network (AHRSN) hosted its inaugural event. The webinar explored proposed reforms to Australia's human rights system and offered insight into the Australian Human Rights Commission Free and Equal project, findings of a major parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s human rights system, and next steps for the reform agenda.
Justice Kirby Lecture
On Monday 29 July 2024, the Centre for Law and Social Justice hosted The Hon. Michael Kirby for a public lecture titled, 'What it is like being on the High Court of Australia' at Newcastle City Hall.
The Right to Education in Australia
On 22 February 2024, The Centre for Law and Social Justice in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre launched the 'Right to Education in Australia' report. The launch discusses the right to education, who is missing out on that right in the Australian context, and the difference a Human Rights Charter would make.
Human Rights & Climate Change
On Tuesday 8 August 2023, the Centre for Law and Social Justice hosted an online webinar with Dr Ian Fry, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart: Information Session
On 15 May 2023, The Centre for Law and Social Justice hosted an information session on the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The session explored the background and context to Constitutional recognition, the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the Voice to Parliament. The session was led by Kishaya Delaney, a proud Wiradjuri woman.
The Human Rights of Young People
On 4 May 2023, the Centre for Law and Social Justice in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre hosted an online webinar exploring the challenges that young people face realising their human rights.
Compensation Owed to Victims of Alleged Australian War Crimes
On 28 April 2023, The Centre for Law and Social Justice hosted an online webinar exploring the reality of the legal, practical, and logistical issues in constructing state compensation schemes for war crimes. The webinar explored; legal problem solving, victim advocacy, and the tension between international and domestic law.
Wrongful Conviction & the Structural Analysis of Innocence Cases
On March 27 2023, The Centre for Law and Social Justice supported a seminar delivered by Dr. Makoto Ibusuki, Professor of Criminal Procedure Law at Seijo University, Tokyo. The seminar provided a comparative analysis of wrongful convictions and the structural analysis of innocence cases, using Japanese case examples.
Empowering Communities in a Context of Regulatory Capitalism and Capture
On 28 March 2023, The Centre for Law and Social Justice supported a seminar exploring the practical concepts and application of a multidisciplinary regulatory capture test synthesised by Dr Tony Brown. The test provides communities and others with a better ‘real world’ appreciation of the symptoms and impact of the systemic and intensifying infiltration of private commercial interests into the alleged impartial, transparent and objective government-based legal framework, the determinative processes and supporting narrative.
Medicare in Prisons: Lobbying for reforms in custodial healthcare
On 5 December 2022, the Centre for Law and Social Justice supported a round-table event discussing the need for Medicare in prisons. Most people are surprised to hear that incarcerated people lack access to Medicare, Australia’s ‘universal’ health care system. The lack of Medicare access causes many issues not only for people in prison themselves, but also for the general community.
The International Criminal Court in Ukraine and Georgia
On 29 November 2022, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Aloka Wanigasuriya reflected on the findings of their PhD thesis titled ‘The Impact Conundrum: The International Criminal Court and the Impact of its Interventions in Georgia and Ukraine’, which was successfully defended in May 2022. The webinar focused on the ICC’s continued impact in the two countries and how these two situations may have an impact on the Court and the larger international criminal justice project.
The Russia-Ukraine War: Contemporary Developments and Challenges
On 17 October 2022, a panel of experts explored issues connected to the armed conflict including the recent case initiated by Ukraine at the International Court of Justice (ICJ): Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) and accountability efforts for the alleged international crimes committed during the Russia-Ukraine war from an International Criminal Law and Ukrainian perspective.
World Day Against the Death Penalty
Who Is Missing out on The Right To Health?
On the 27 September 2022, in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre, a panel of experts discussed the right to health. Learn more about how a Charter of Human Rights can make a difference.
Michael Kirby Public Lecture: Russia, Ukraine and the Peoples' Right of Self Determination.
On the 5th of May 2022, The Honourable Michael Kirby hosted a public lecture at Newcastle Law School titled, 'Russia, Ukraine and the Peoples' Right of Self Determination.' The thought provoking speech had three central thematic areas.
International Human Rights Law - Lessons in the Era of COVID-19
On the 23rd of May 2022, a panel of international human rights experts explored rights of vulnerable individuals and communities who have experienced disproportionate impacts from both the pandemic itself and measures that constrain the exercise of human rights.
Legal Practice for First Nations Rights
On the 12th of May 2022, a panel of legal experts discussed the diversity of legal practice for First Nations Rights exploring themes such as intellectual property, Native Title, criminal and civil law and public interest advocacy.
The Djokovic Visa Controversy, Human Rights and Australian Law
On the 1st of March 2022, an eminent panel of legal experts explored the legal controversies emerging from the cancellation of Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa. Learn more about the ‘godlike’ powers of the Immigration minister, Australia’s immigration and border policies, expedited access to courts and the relationship between sport and human rights in Australia.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.