Safeguarding Free and Accessible Justice Services in Victoria
Are we seeing a critical turning point for free community justice services in Victoria?
Over the past five years, I have maintained a detailed record of my volunteering as a Justice of the Peace (JP), in dedicating one to two nights a week across two regional police stations, I have contributed approximately 530 hours of pro bono service to the Victorian Community.
I've witnessed and signed over 13,000 pages, factoring in the average fee of around $7 per page that commercial alternatives - such as pharmicists - often charge, this voluntary contribution alone has saved the Victorian public roughly $90,000.
It is also important to note that alternative options have distinct limitations; for instance, pharmacists cannot witness affidavits or powers of attorney, nor sign many of the 500+ specialised documents that JPs are trained to manage. Without a robust volunteer network, residents risk facing rising costs and administrative barriers to essential legal processes.
Over the past five years, I have maintained a detailed record of my volunteering as a Justice of the Peace (JP), in dedicating one to two nights a week across two regional police stations, I have contributed approximately 530 hours of pro bono service to the Victorian Community.
I've witnessed and signed over 13,000 pages, factoring in the average fee of around $7 per page that commercial alternatives - such as pharmicists - often charge, this voluntary contribution alone has saved the Victorian public roughly $90,000.
It is also important to note that alternative options have distinct limitations; for instance, pharmacists cannot witness affidavits or powers of attorney, nor sign many of the 500+ specialised documents that JPs are trained to manage. Without a robust volunteer network, residents risk facing rising costs and administrative barriers to essential legal processes.
The Capacity Challenge
Victoria currently supports around 1,900 active Justices of the Peace, compared to over 80,000 in Queensland. As experienced volunteers naturally transition out of the role over time, the current framework faces growing strain.
Rather than strengthening volunteer pipelines, overflow demand is frequently absorbed by a broad list of designated professionals. While these professionals perform vital work, this approach presents three significant structural challenges:
To ensure this essential public service remains viable and accessible, Victoria would benefit significantly from a renewed focus on recruitment and support to train up 5,000 new Justices of the Peace.
Please support the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices petition to help us keep justice services free and accessible for all Victorians.
Please sign the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices petition via the QR code below.
Victoria currently supports around 1,900 active Justices of the Peace, compared to over 80,000 in Queensland. As experienced volunteers naturally transition out of the role over time, the current framework faces growing strain.
Rather than strengthening volunteer pipelines, overflow demand is frequently absorbed by a broad list of designated professionals. While these professionals perform vital work, this approach presents three significant structural challenges:
- Training and Specialisation - Most designated professionals receive little to no formal training in the nuanced execution and witnessing of legal documents.
- Optimising Expertise - Frontline professionals—such as doctors, pharmacists, and police officers, are most valuable when focusing on healthcare, medicine, and community safety, rather than administrative processing.
- Preserving Impartiality - The strictly unpaid, volunteer nature of a JP is a cornerstone of institutional independence, ensuring absolute public trust and impartiality.
To ensure this essential public service remains viable and accessible, Victoria would benefit significantly from a renewed focus on recruitment and support to train up 5,000 new Justices of the Peace.
Please support the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices petition to help us keep justice services free and accessible for all Victorians.
Please sign the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices petition via the QR code below.
Please note, the experiences and opinions expressed above are my own and do not reflect the experiences and opinions of Honorary Justices in Victoria as a whole.
