The National Access to Justice Partnership (NAJP) [PDF 4.8 MB | DOCX 1.55 MB] is a five-year agreement between Commonwealth and state and territory governments, working in partnership, to enhance access to justice for people experiencing vulnerability and financial disadvantage.
The NAJP will:
- provide essential legal assistance services to people who are unable to afford private legal services including in family, civil, administrative and criminal law
- focus on providing services for women and children who are escaping or at risk of experiencing family and domestic violence, and
- provide culturally appropriate legal assistance services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
In addition, the NAJP will set a stronger and more sustainable foundation for the legal assistance sector with a greater level of certainty through:
- stable and ongoing Commonwealth funding
- key long-term reforms to further enhance sector’s capability, and
- a strong focus on governance standards to support accountability of publicly funded organisations.
Implementation
The NAJP will commence on 1 July 2025, replacing the current National Legal Assistance Partnership that expires on 30 June 2025.
