The Community Justice Centres (CJC) provide free and confidential services across NSW to help people prevent, manage, and resolve disputes.
Having been in operation for over 40 years, in 2022- 23 the CJC assisted over 12,000 people with 76% of matters progressing to mediation within 60 days of first contact.
Mediation through the CJC led to the successful resolution of 80% of neighbour disputes, 83% of landlord and tenant disputes, and 63% of family disputes.
There are no waiting lists and services are provided throughout NSW.
Mr Clancy said statewide there are 63 skilled mediators who currently offer support, working through family and workforce disagreements, consumer disputes, disputes involving money and debt, conflicts within community organisations and between public housing residents, along with applications for Apprehended Personal Violence Orders.
“This looming statewide shutdown has been made with little consultation and will undoubtedly place additional strain on Albury Court, Legal Aid NSW, and see increased demand for police intervention,” he said.
“It is unacceptable that our most vulnerable and disadvantaged community members will be left without affordable and accessible options to amicably resolve disagreements.
“We need full details about how the NSW Government considers that NSW people are in any way better off with the closure of this long-running program, how many community members will be impacted by the shutdown, what measures will be taken to support those mid-mediation, and what new programs and services will be offered to fill this void.”
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