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Engagement support for young people involved with the Children’s Court

Young people who are involved with the Children’s Court can receive support and advice from the Education Justice Initiative (EJI).

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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 to reconnect and remain engaged with education and training in a way that suits their needs and interests. It operates:

Our team members are available to:

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:

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:

Eligibility

EJI provides support and advice to young people:

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:

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

Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Day)

Eligibility

EJI (Family Division) provides support and advice to young people:

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:

Key contacts

Open all

Email: Christopher.Dickinson@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)

Phone: 03 9084 8703

Mobile: 0429 540 104

Email: Kim.Wilson2@education.vic.gov.au

Phone: 03 9194 6354

Mobile: 0447 261 236

Email: David.Moar@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)

Phone: 03 5215 5186

Mobile: 0412 250 276

Email: Natalie.Millard2@education.vic.gov.au

Phone: 03 5858 8970

Mobile: 0436 862 360

Email: Kim.Kenealy@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)

Phone: 03 5194 4294

Mobile: 0477 375 650

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.

Education & training

Updated 26 March 2026

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