Impact

Community Consultative Committee – Task Force Atlas NSW Police Force – Dr Justin Ellis

In recognition of his contribution to deepening understanding of the relationship between technology, identity, and justice, in 2024, Dr Ellis was appointed to the NSW Police Force Task Force Atlas community consultive committee in response to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes 1970-2010 (the Sackar Inquiry). Dr Ellis' contribution through the Committee has included his participation in the development of recorded training videos on hate crime for the NSW Police Force as part of the NSW Police Force Commissioner’s LGBTIQA+ Hate Crimes Directive Training Package – one of only several training packages mandated as compulsory training in 2025 by the NSW Police Force Commissioner.

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Informing the development of data policy in Scotland – Professor Angela Daly

The independent review of the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council's research data policy is informing the creation of cross-council UKRI data policy, which will be published in late 2026. Recommendations from the Independent Expert Group to the Scottish Government on Unlocking the Value of Data's final report, which was chaired by Professor Angela Daly, is being implemented by the Scottish Government and Research Data Scotland. These recommendations will inform how public sector bodies make decisions about whether to grant access to the personal data they hold to private sector companies.

Influencing human rights law reform across Australia

As a steering committee member of both the national Human Rights Act campaign alliance, convened by the Human Rights Law Centre, and the NSW Human Rights Act Alliance, convened by Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, Amy Maguire has played a significant role in advancing the case for stronger human rights protection in Australia. Drawing on her expertise as a human rights scholar, she has contributed to campaign strategy, public education, policy development and engagement with policy- and decision-makers including through parliamentary inquiries and direct advocacy. As of 2026, the NSW alliance is deeply engaged in a state parliamentary inquiry into a private member's Human Rights Bill 2025 (NSW), which marks a significant milestone towards human rights law reform.

Highlighted Engagement - Inquiry into the Application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia

On 10 March 2023, Associate Professor Amy Maguire and Bethany Butchers represented the Centre for Law and Social Justice at a public hearing of the Inquiry into the Application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia.  The Centre was invited as part of an academic roundtable session alongside colleagues from ANU and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash. The invitation followed a major submission that Bethany and Amy coordinated with inputs from 11 students of the School of Law and Justice in 2022. The hearing was convened by the recently-established Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, and chaired by Senator Pat Dodson. The full transcript is available here.

Research Impact Stories

The Centre’s research is applied, practical and delivers positive change to our region and internationally. The Centre works on innovative solutions to the ever-more complex challenges facing our world today, underpinned by a commitment to widen participation and overcome injustice and to promote equity across society. The Centre for Law and Social Justice forms one of the key sites at the University for genuine interdisciplinary research and student engagement, guided by values of: excellence, engagement, equity and sustainability.

Click below to see some of our research impact stories: