Goal 16:
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Policy-Focused Research in Collaboration with Government Departments
The University of Newcastle partners with government at local, regional, national and international levels to conduct policy‑focused research. The Centre for Law and Social Justice is key in these collaborations. The 2024 Annual Report highlights multiple projects where researchers work closely with governments on policy development, law reform and public interest matters.
The Centre for Law & Social Justice in 2024
See our policy‑focused research in collaboration with government departments or agencies in 2024:
- Pacific Engagement & Policy Development
- The Centre is involved in engagement and policy development in Pacific Island states, collaborating with government and regional bodies to develop or adapt policies in areas of human rights, governance, and social justice. This includes capacity building, policy advice, and research that feeds into governmental decision‑making in those jurisdictions.
- Right to Education Project
- The Centre has worked on “Right to Education in Australia”, collaborating with government agencies and/or government directed review or submissions. The project analyses the legal and normative basis for instituting an enforceable right to education, considering how government laws and regulations align with human rights obligations, and proposing policy reforms.
- Student Social Justice Projects
- The Annual Report highlights student‑centred social justice projects that engage with public, governmental or regulatory systems — for example projects where students, under supervision, research law and policy issues affecting marginalised groups, propose reforms, and sometimes make submissions or policy proposals to government bodies.
- Submissions to Government Inquiries
- Beyond named research projects, the Centre has made formal submissions to governmental inquiries (e.g. parliamentary inquiries) on law reform or human rights related issues. These submissions are based on research evidence and often include policy recommendations.
Read our Annual Report
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
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.
News
News • 02 Jun 2022
Her Excellency Launches Centre for Law and Social Justice
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of NSW, launched the Centre for Law and Social Justice on the 2 June 2022. Her Excellency gave an inspiring address around concepts of equity and fairness and the duty of educated persons to serve the community.
News • 30 Mar 2022
Budget cuts to the Australian Human Rights Commission couldn’t have come at a worse time
The budget for Australia’s national human rights institution, the Australian Human Rights Commission, will fall significantly over the next four years.
News • 24 Mar 2022
Resourcing Youth-Led Peace Work: Commit to the Long Term and the Local
Since 2015, the global community has increasingly acknowledged the importance of youth leadership for the pursuit of sustainable peace. In an under-resourced and hyper-competitive landscape, promising youth-led programs are missing out.
News • 18 Mar 2022
Russia’s bombardment and Ukraine’s departure ban leave children and those with disabilities most vulnerable
Russia’s war on Ukraine is driving some of the most rapid movement of refugees ever seen. Its invasion and increasingly intense bombardment is generating a dire humanitarian crisis. Over 3 million people have fled across borders to Poland and other surrounding countries since February 24.
News • 08 Mar 2022
Why banning men from leaving Ukraine violates their human rights
As Ukraine scrambles to defend itself from Russia’s illegal invasion, men aged 18 to 60 have been banned from leaving the country.
News • 01 Mar 2022
The Centre for Law and Social Justice hosts first event!
The Centre for Law and Social Justice has hosted its first online event. The webinar titled, 'The Djokovic Visa Controversy, Human Rights and Australian Law,' took place on the 1st of March 2022.
News • 18 Feb 2022
Welcoming students from refugee backgrounds to study at Newcastle Law School
Newcastle Law School and the Centre for Law and Social Justice are celebrating the commencement of four new students of refugee background in the undergraduate Law program.
News • 16 Feb 2022
The Government's bid for an enhanced 'character test' is unnecessary
The Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill will pass the House of Representatives by the end of this week. The bill would enhance the immigration minister’s powers to cancel the visas of people convicted of certain crimes.
News • 04 Feb 2022
The University of Newcastle Law School launches new Centre for Law and Social Justice
The Centre for Law and Social Justice, has started soft launch activities with its first panel event scheduled for 1st of March 2022.
News • 10 Jun 2021
Newcastle Law School is contributing to public debate on climate change
Given the scientific consensus that an urgent and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is required to avoid catastrophic environmental and economic consequences, Newcastle Law School encourages its students, alumni and staff to support efforts to promote immediate and sustained action t
News • 18 May 2021
Accountability and alleged war crimes, the Israel-Palestinian conflict
The latest outbreak of conflict in Gaza and Israel is escalating rapidly. Associate Professor Amy Maguire discusses why accountability for alleged war crimes is so hard to achieve in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
News • 15 Jan 2021
Pop-up legal clinic returns to support the Newcastle community
After a challenging 2020, the University of Newcastle Legal Centre’s pop-up clinic at Merewether beach is returning to offer free legal advice to individuals struggling with any law-related matters.
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.