Restorative Justice in Queensland
Restorative justice is one of the most effective tools in Queensland's criminal justice system — and one of the least understood. It diverts cases away from the courtroom and towards a structured conversation between the person who caused the harm and the person who was harmed. When it works, it produces better outcomes than a conviction — for the offender, for the victim, and for the community. This guide explains how restorative justice conferencing works in Queensland — for children and young people under the Youth Justice Act 1992 , and for adults through the Adult Restorative Justice…
What Is Restorative Justice?
Restorative justice is an alternative to the traditional court process. Instead of a prosecutor presenting a case to a magistrate or judge, and the court imposing a sentence, restorative justice brings together the people directly affected by the offence: The person who committed the offence (who must admit to it) The person who was harmed — or their representative Family members and support…
How a Conference Works — Step by Step
Whether the conference is for a young person under the Youth Justice Act or an adult through the Adult Restorative Justice Conferencing program, the process follows a similar structure. Before the Conference The convenor — a trained, independent facilitator — meets separately with each party before the conference takes place. These pre-conference meetings are essential: The person responsible is…
Youth Justice — Restorative Justice for Children
For children and young people aged 10 to 17, restorative justice conferencing is fully legislated under Part 3 of the Youth Justice Act 1992 (Qld). It is embedded in the youth justice system — not an add-on, but a core pathway. Queensland was one of the first Australian jurisdictions to legislate youth restorative justice conferencing. The first pilot program ran in Cairns in 1996. Statewide…
What Changed in December 2024
The Making Queensland Safer Act 2024 , which commenced on 13 December 2024, made significant changes to youth sentencing — including restorative justice. The Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Act 2025 extended those changes further. What Was Removed Restorative Justice Orders (section 175) are no longer available as a sentencing option for prescribed offences. Originally…
Adult Restorative Justice in Queensland
Restorative justice conferencing is also available for adults in Queensland — but the framework is fundamentally different from the youth system. Unlike youth conferencing, adult restorative justice conferencing is not specifically legislated for criminal matters. It operates under the Dispute Resolution Centres Act 1990 (Qld) — civil legislation designed for dispute resolution that does not…
First Nations and Cultural Considerations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are significantly overrepresented in the youth justice system. Restorative justice conferencing has particular significance for First Nations communities — both as a diversion from the formal justice system and as a process that can reflect cultural values of kinship, community accountability, and collective resolution. Under the…
The Lawyer's Role
A lawyer is not required to participate in a restorative justice conference. However, legal advice is important at certain stages of the process — particularly in identifying that a conference is available and making the right application to the court. Where Legal Advice Matters Identifying the pathway. Assessing whether police should have offered diversion (and making a section 24A application if…