The stories of the Australian Association of Restorative Justice (AARJ) and Restorative Practices International (RPI) are woven together by the shared purpose of nurturing restorative practice as a profession and as a way of being.
AARJ began as the Victorian Association of Restorative Justice (VARJ) in 2005. Its founding members focused on advancing restorative justice in the state of Victoria through awareness-raising in public forums, providing technical advice to legislators and administrators, and capacity-building for facilitators, administrators, evaluators, and policy-makers. From the mid-2010s, colleagues in other jurisdictions indicated that they were keen to replicate this capacity-building work, and the Australian Association of Restorative Justice was established, after extensive consultation, in late 2019.
RPI, founded as a company in 2009, is a global, volunteer-led membership organisation where restorative practitioners and allies find connection, belonging, integrity and growth. RPI is 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. We strengthen cross-regional networks, create inclusive spaces that elevate diverse voices, uphold values grounded in wisdom traditions and expand access to reflective, practice-centred learning. Wherever relationships exist, RPI members bring restorative practice to life – in schools, justice systems, workplaces, prisons, community organisations, environment, health, families and beyond.
The paths of AARJ and RPI have crossed in meaningful ways over the years, each encounter deepening a shared commitment to restorative practice. In 2013, members of both organisations joined with the Collingwood Neighbourhood Justice Centre to host the Broadening Restorative Practices conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This gathering that celebrated connection, dialogue and the widening reach of restorative approaches.
A decade later, that spirit of collaboration was renewed at the Contemporary Restorative Practices conference, held at the Australian National University in Canberra in November 2024.
Members of AARJ and RPI 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.
