A world-wide association for restorative practitioners, RPI is an independent professional member organisation designed to support practitioners working in diverse areas of Restorative Justice and related fields. As a social movement, intent on reform, we value the experience and wisdom of practitioners in these varying fields. We are committed to supporting our members and associates in their endeavours to deepen the awareness and integration of Restorative Practices to transform individuals and society.
Vision: A world where restorative practice is a recognised, respected and resourced approach to transforming relationships and systems through healing harm and advancing social justice and collective healing.
RPI is officially constituted as a not-for profit company limited by guarantee. The current Board, brings together RPI members from across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Our recent RPI Board retreat on Minjerribah was a reflective, values-led gathering that fostered deep listening, strengthened relationships, and shaped a shared strategic direction for the future.
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Restorative Justice (RJ) is an approach to problem solving that is based around three basic concepts. There is a range of Restorative Justice programs across fields as diverse as justice (policing, corrections, juvenile justice), schools, workplaces, organizations, faith groups, family and community, characterized by distinct values.
Who We Are
Restorative Practices International (RPI) is a global, independent and volunteer-led community of practice. We are a professional member-based organisation, grounded in the belief that restorative practice is not simply a method, it is a way of being in relationship with one another and the world.
Founded in 2007 by two visionary practitioners, Peta Blood and Margaret Thorsborne, RPI was born from a shared commitment to connection, learning and the collective evolution of restorative practice. Their vision was simple yet profound: to create a space where practitioners from around the world could gather, not just to share methods, but to listen deeply, challenge thoughtfully and grow together.
We recognise that restorative practice takes many forms, across many contexts. Our members come from schools, justice systems, workplaces, prisons, community organisations, environment, families and beyond. They carry with them diverse ways of knowing and doing, rooted in local cultures, community traditions and lived experience. We honour this diversity as a source of strength, creativity and transformation.
Members of the Australian Association of Restorative Justice (AARJ) and RPI have committed to closer partnership, which now involves joint projects of awareness-raising and capacity-building across Australasia and beyond, guided by the belief that restorative practice flourishes when nurtured collectively.
Our Purpose
As a professional and relational home for restorative practitioners, RPI exists to:
- Connection: Strengthen cross-regional networks, partnerships and visibility through international gatherings, digital dialogue and collaborative storytelling.
- Belonging: Centre culturally safe, inclusive spaces that elevate Indigenous voices, reach underrepresented regions and create mutual care across the RPI community.
- Integrity: Position RPI as a values-led, culturally grounded professional body shaped by diverse knowledge systems and wisdom traditions.
- Growth: Expand access to learning opportunities that are reflective, relational and practice-centred.
We believe there are many paths to restoration and many ways to build justice, healing and connection. What unites us is not a single model, but a shared commitment to walk alongside others in ways that restore dignity, rebuild trust and invite relational transformation.
Membership is open to all who share these values: practitioners, community members, scholars and allies. We are here to support, to connect and to amplify the voices and work of those bringing restorative practices to life in their workplaces and communities.
We are not bound by geography or status. We are connected by purpose and by the quiet, powerful belief that how we relate to one another can and must change the world.
