About the Education Justice Initiative
The Education Justice Initiative (EJI) is an information referral, and advocacy program that provides education advice and support to young people appearing in Children's Courts locations across Victoria. Young people who are involved in the Criminal or Family Divisions of the Children's Court can receive support from the Education Justice Initiative (EJI).
The EJI team members who deliver support are Regional Education Court Liaison Officers (RECCLOs) and Koorie Education Children's Court Liaison Officers (KECCLOs) who work from the Children' Court on a court sitting day.
Support and services for young people
EJI supports young people aged 10 to 17 to reconnect and remain engaged with education and training in a way that suits their needs and interests. It operates:
- in the Criminal Division at Children's Courts and all Children's Koori Courts in Victoria
- in the Family Division at six children's courts and both Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Day) locations.
Our team members are available to:
- talk to young people about their educational needs and interests
- provide advice to young people, their families/carers and support workers about education and training options
- liaise with schools and training providers on behalf of young people, to help them get back into education.
We can provide help and advice, whether a young person wants to return to school, enrol in TAFE, apply for an apprenticeship or isn't sure what they want to do.
Other services include:
- advocating on behalf of the young person to resolve education issues and connect young people to necessary support or programs
- facilitating enrolment in schools, alternative education settings and vocational courses
- giving information to the court about the young person's education to assist the court in decision making.
Support in the Criminal Division
Our team members provide support in all Children's Courts and all Children's Koori Courts across Victoria.
KECCLOs provide services to eligible young Koorie people with matters in Children's Koori Courts or mainstream Children's Court.
For more information on the initiative's operating model, policy context and service delivery, read:
- Education Justice Initiative operating guidelines (PDF, 1.61MB)
- Education Justice Initiative operating guidelines (DOCX, 5.02MB)
Eligibility
EJI provides support and advice to young people:
- aged 12 to 17 years old
- who have a matter in the Criminal Division of the Children's Court or the Children’s Koori Court.
If a young person already has a support or case worker from a government agency, such as a Youth Justice case worker, Children's Court Diversion Service case worker or Child Protection case managers our team members will work with them to ensure a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach.
Young people who are not connected to government agency support services can be referred directly to the EJI program.
Referrals to EJI
Referrals to the EJI (Criminal Division) program should be made directly to the appropriate EJI team member for the Children's Court where the young person's matter is being heard. If you are not sure who the relevant EJI team member is you can contact the EJI central office: eji.referrals@education.vic.gov.au.
Referrals can be made by:
- young people and their families
- magistrates
- police
- Youth Justice and the Children's Court Youth Diversion Service
- Victoria Legal Aid or legal representatives
- community organisations
- schools.
Support in the Family Division
EJI is being piloted in the Family Division of the Children's Court. Our team members attend Children's Court sitting days in:
6 Family Division court locations across Victoria
- Melbourne
- Dandenong
- Broadmeadows
- Sale
- Morwell
- Bairnsdale
Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Day)
- Broadmeadows
- Shepparton
Eligibility
EJI (Family Division) provides support and advice to young people:
- aged 10 to 17 years
- who have a matter in the Family Division of the Children's Court or the Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Day)
- and who have also appeared in the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court or Children's Koori Court.
If a young person already has a case/support worker, EJI team members can work with them to ensure a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach. This includes Child Protection case managers, Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) case managers, and legal representatives.
Young people who are not connected to support services can be referred directly to the program.
Referrals to EJI
Referrals for young people appearing in these Family Division locations should be made directly to the appropriate EJI team member where the young person’s matter is being heard. If you are not sure who the relevant EJI team member is you can contact the EJI central office: eji.familydivision@education.vic.gov.au.
Referrals can be made by:
- young people and their families
- magistrates
- Victoria Legal Aid or legal representatives
- Child Protection
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
- Children’s Court Diversion Services & Youth Justice.
Key contacts
If you're unable to contact your local EJI representative, please email your referral to the central team eji.referrals@education.vic.gov.au.
Further information
Collection of information
The EJI team may need to collect some information and provide support and advice. The following collection notice explains how this information may be used.
Background
Young people involved in the criminal justice system have typically experienced significant disadvantage and are often disengaged from education.
There's strong evidence that education is key to reducing young people's risk of reoffending and building positive life skills and improving long term outcomes.
The EJI assists young people to re-engage with education in a way that suits their needs and interests. The initiative is run by the Department of Education and is supported by the Children's Court of Victoria.
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