7. Public participation

DCJ is committed to consultation with clients and other members of the public, contracted service providers, non-government organisations, philanthropists, the private sector, and other government agencies at local, state and federal levels.

DCJ implements arrangements for members of the public to inform the exercise of DCJ’s functions and the development and implementation of policy. This allows members of the public to comment on and inform DCJ’s strategic direction, current and future projects, services, policies, and law reform. Examples of these arrangements include, but are not limited to:

• Community engagement initiatives such as the NSW Government Have Your Say portal.
• Direct contact with members of the public by receiving and dealing with complaints and feedback about DCJ services and contracted service providers.
• Consultation with internal and external stakeholders, including non-government organisations and other government agencies at local, state and federal levels.
• Consultative committees and advisory councils, often composed of cross-disciplinary government agency representatives, non-government organisation personnel, and representatives from the community with relevant skills, education and or lived experiences. This includes:
  • Aboriginal Community Consultative Committees
  • Youth Justice Advisory Committee
  • NSW Carers Advisory Council
  • Disability Council NSW
  • Community Housing Industry Council
  • NSW Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing
  • NSW Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Council
• Engaging current and former clients of DCJ with lived experiences in systems within DCJ’s remit, for example, through the Youth Justice Child Safe Framework.

Any member of the public may write to the Secretary with suggestions or to raise issues that concern them or the community.

Past and current public consultations on various projects, services, policies, and law reform may be viewed at Policy Reform and Legislation.

Members of the public may contact us to make general enquiries, access crisis support and helplines or provide feedback.

DCJ maintains a presence on social media through which information about initiatives and DCJ’s work in the community is communicated to the public. Links are provided below: