Removing Communication barriers
Justice Communications
Australia
Justice Communications Australia is a network supporting flourishing communication in justice contexts. This means prisons, courts, community corrections, legal consultations, rehabilitation, resettlement programs and more.
Bridging the Gaps in the Justice System: Connected Work and Collaboration
We work to build awareness and skill in communication for people experiencing the justice system – whether they are employees, users, volunteers and contributors, or supporters working through community agencies.
Justice Communications Australia provide evidence-based support for migrants and refugees who are learning to read and write English. This helps them build the communication skills needed for both personal and professional success in their new environments.
Communication can be really hard. Especially in situations that might be tangled up with questions of rights, victimhood, crime, offence, disability, disadvantage, trauma, and high emotion. Everyone has differing perspectives, differing skill levels, and differing emotional responses. These all affect how we communicate. It takes intention, awareness, self-monitoring, reading others, and careful choice of words and gestures to be as successful as we hope to be in this kind of complexity.
What we do!
Justice Communications Australia provide a range of services for incarcerated individuals, people recently released from prison, migrants and refugees.
The JCA services include:
- Individual communication and literacy support with volunteer mentors
- Individual communication and literacy support with professional communication mentors (Speech Pathologists)
- Relationally-based parenting programs and parent-child play programs.
Justice Communications Australia provide a range of services for prison staff, allied health professionals, government agencies, and to support Corrections and Justice system policy.
The JCA services include:
- Advocacy: awareness, training and education
- Advisory consultancy: expert submissions, consultation and research.
Contact JCA to learn how we can assist you or how you can get involved!
Why JCA Matters?
Justice Communications Australia endeavour to ignite hope in a demographic often referred to as ‘vulnerable’. Many people involved in the justice system have faced significant experiences of devastation, such as:
- Childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences
- Generational cycles of disadvantage
- Developmental language disorders and learning difficulties
- Mental health challenges
These devastating experiences can hinder people’s ability to engage effectively with their prosocial development, rehabilitation and community integration and reintegration. Our programs and advocacy work are designed to support individuals in these positions by providing them with the communication and comprehension support and tools they need to navigate their circumstances more successfully.
Breaking the Cycle: Creating Lasting Change
By fostering meaningful change, we help to empower individuals to shift established intergenerational cycles of disadvantage, creating a ripple effect that positively influences children and future generations.
We achieve these goals by helping people develop their:
- Communication and literacy skills
- Ability to understand feelings and emotions and self-expression
- Skills and capacity to engage with restorative processes
- Resilience to transform devastating life experiences into something new, beautiful and whole
Through our multifaceted approaches, we aim to support an inclusive and effective justice system, minimising the communication barriers that can hinder rehabilitation and reintegration.
Changing One Life at a Time!
Justice Communications Australia engages with individuals who are in prison or leaving prison to build trusted connections which then become the foundation for self-selected and self-driven positive changes. Matt Mansfield is one such person.
After dropping out of school Matt got involved with crime and drug use, resulting in him spending time in prison. He became another number in the justice system.
Rosie Martin engaged with Matt after his release from prison and commenced mentoring him through what was then called the Ground-Level Literacy Program – now the Straight Forward Mentoring Program. Mentoring sessions focussed on developing trusted safe connection, and building reading, writing and language comprehension. Through this ongoing process, and his own determination, Matt acknowledges that his life has been turned around.
Matt now speaks openly about his journey and the impact of engaging with Rosie in developing his communication skills and learning to read. He is clear that most areas of his life have been transformed including:
- Being “clean” from drugs
- Doing regular exercise and losing weight
- Encouraging his children to learn in school
- Participating as a volunteer
- Created a safe home for his children
- Becoming financially literate
- Teaching his children to care for pets and others
Matt was given a second chance, to help him find his voice, feel heard, seen and valued and was given the tools to navigate his life in a more productive and positive way.
Contact JCA to learn how we can assist you or how you can get involved!
JCA Services
What people say about JCA
“The presentation was both informative and insightful. Gave excellent examples and practical advice on engaging with disadvantaged people. A worthwhile PD for the entire team.”
Workshop Participant
“He began to write hilarious anecdotes of his working life, amazing himself at his capacity to produce
written material that others found entertaining to read.”
Communication & Literacy Mentor
“I can read your text messages easily now.”
Participant
“This is helping me know what to do to be able to help my kids with their reading and writing.”
Participant
“I know very well that I am not stupid, and I can function well in the world, but I want to be able to understand what normal people can read and write like.”
Participant
“I always knew I could learn to read – I just needed someone to show me.”
Participant
“It’s like you now have a toolbox for reading that you didn’t have before. When you come up to a word, you know how to steady yourself and then take out the tool you need and use it.”
Participant
“The program has really helped me in many areas in life, friendships, work, family. I can see how the attachment theory can work in many other areas.”
Circle of Security Parenting™, Participant
F.A.Q
Why is communication a focus for JCA?
Communication is central to JCA’s mission because many people in the justice system face challenges such as trauma, learning difficulties, and language barriers. By improving communication, JCA helps individuals understand their rights, express themselves, and participate effectively in restorative and rehabilitative processes.
Who benefits from JCA’s services?
JCA’s services benefit a broad range of people, including individuals involved in the justice system (current and former), migrants and refugees learning English, and professionals such as prison staff, allied health workers, and community service agencies. They also support policymakers through consultancy and advocacy.
What does Justice Communications Australia (JCA) do?
JCA supports people involved in the justice system—such as incarcerated individuals, former inmates, migrants, and refugees. JCA provides communication and literacy support, mentoring, parenting programs, and advocacy. Their work focuses on building awareness and communication skills to promote rehabilitation, reintegration, and social inclusion.
News Insights & Expertise
“I DON’T KNOW” is the Beginning of Something Good!
- April 28, 2025
- Rosalie Martin
Transforming Lives Through Literacy and Communication in the Justice System
- September 26, 2024
- Sally Napthali
Empowering Lives, Building a Literate Australia!
- September 26, 2024
- Rosalie Martin
