How can we support ambitious, evidence-based ideas to tackle systemic justice challenges in New South Wales?
By investing in emerging leaders and funding time and space to explore the complex questions that sit at the heart of our justice system.
On 30 July 2025, the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW hosted Justice Ideas 2025, a dynamic forum bringing together researchers, advocates, and policy professionals to explore bold, practical ideas for justice system reform.
The event, hosted at Sydney’s iconic Customs House, showcased the work of our inaugural Justice Fellows – four professionals funded by the Foundation to delve into an area of justice they are passionate about.
Dr Amee Baird
Diversion for dementia: Access to justice forpeople with dementia
Dr Baird explored the lived experience of people with dementia charged with criminal offences in NSW. Her findings point to serious issues in police and court processes, and a growing need for specialist responses. She proposes an Elder Court model – similar to the Children’s Court – featuring multidisciplinary support and fast-tracked assessments for elderly offenders.
Will Cesta
Autonomous legal applications and access to justice: Liability considerations for legal innovators
Will examined the legal implications of using AI-powered legal tools to close the justice gap. His findings clarify how current legislative frameworks apply to new technologies, offering guidance for legal assistance providers and innovators on how to build accessible AI powered applications while avoiding harm and legal risk.
Patricia Vagg
Voices from a distance: Justice in remote Western NSW
Based in far western NSW, Patricia captured community experiences of the justice system through in-depth interviews and interwoven storytelling. Her exploration highlights the logistical and cultural disconnection between remote communities and urban-based legal systems, calling for locally informed service delivery that meets people where they are.
Arlia Fleming
Changing the narrative: Language at the heart of justice and healing
Arlia’s Fellowship examines the legal sector’s use of “mutualising” language in cases involving domestic and family violence. Phrases that obscure responsibility can distort proceedings and silence survivors. She presented practical tools for lawyers to improve documentation, accountability, and the visibility of victim-survivors’ experiences and resilience.
Chaired by Law and Justice Foundation of NSW Chair Sharon Cook, Justice Ideas 2025 also featured an opening keynote address by Dr Hugh McDermott MP, NSW Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General, who shared his own insights into the Foundation’s legacy and the central role of evidence-based public policy.
The Foundation thanks all attendees for contributing to the engaging discussions and helping to build a community of practice around evidence-informed justice reform. We are especially grateful to our 2024 Justice Fellows for their important contributions to public interest knowledge.
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