The Solution Focused Justice Framework 2026-2028 has been developed to support mainstream courts in strengthening the quality of court processes for people charged with criminal offences, complainants and victims, witnesses and family members of those affected by the court system. 

While the framework has been developed with a focus on NSW and the ACT, it may also be helpful in other jurisdictions.  

The framework shoud be read alongside the Solution Focused Justice Symposium 2026 Statement of Principles.

Background 

In 2026, the AIJA supported the Solution Focused Justice Symposium. The symposium was also supported by the NSW Bar Association, Te Kura Kaiwhakawā (New Zealand Institute of Judicial Studies), the University of Technology Sydney, the Bugmy Bar Book and the NSW Judicial Commission.  

The symposium showcased how Solution Focused Justice is operating across Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Canada and Papua New Guinea. It highlighted examples of best practice and fostered connections between judicial officers, legal professionals, academics, students and community organisations committed to trauma-informed, culturally safe and solution focused approaches to justice.

The key purpose of solution focused courts and approaches is to address the underlying causes that have brought a person before the court. In this sense, they may be therapeutic. They can also create opportunities to centre victim and survivor experiences and, in that sense, may be restorative.  

Two clear and resounding messages emerged from the symposium: 

• Solution focused courts are important. They serve an important purpose for particular cohorts of people and contribute to community safety. 

• There is a significant opportunity to improve the quality of legal processes by mainstreaming solution focused approaches.  

The Solution Focused Framework 2026-2028 has been developed as a resource to support courts, legal professionals, and communities in this work. 

The framework and principles emphasise the importance of community-led, local, and place-based implementation of Solution Focused Justice approaches.  

The framework is not intended to prescribe a top-down model. Rather, it is a resource for judges, lawyers, and community organisations seeking to make change within their own communities.  

It recognises the importance of consultation, local leadership, and approaches that are respectful of the needs and priorities of each community.