Ian Brown, the new chief executive of Just Reinvest NSW. Photo: supplied
Ian Brown’s involvement with Just Reinvest NSW began about four years ago, when he joined a local Aboriginal leadership group helping guide the organisation’s work in his hometown. Today, the Moree-born Gomeroi man is its chief executive.
Mr Brown officially took up the statewide role on 2 November. He is now based in Redfern, but his ties to Moree remain strong, with his parents still living in the town where he grew up.
Asked what his appointment meant to him, Mr Brown said: “To be honest with you, it means a lot.”
Just Reinvest began working in Moree in 2019. Mr Brown joined its first local Aboriginal leadership group around 2022, helping develop arrangements that gave community members a say in how the organisation operated.
“Just Reinvest, justice reinvestment as a concept, but also JR New South Wales actually holds a pretty meaningful place for me,” he said.
Just Reinvest NSW works with Aboriginal communities to reduce contact with the criminal justice system. Rather than taking the same approach in every town, it helps local people identify problems and develop solutions that suit their community.
In Moree, that has included cultural camps, community block parties and practical support to help people overcome everyday barriers.
“We look at simple things like literally getting access to haircuts days or really just the basic stuff in terms of making sure that community members have their tax file number or birth certificates,” Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown is particularly proud of the youth forum and block party supported by Just Reinvest in April 2022. Nearly 800 young people attended the two events, and the block party showcased local creative talent.
But as more organisations and government agencies have become involved in supporting young people in Moree, Mr Brown believes the time has come to rethink how Just Reinvest contributes.
He acknowledged that some of Just Reinvest’s activities had overlapped with programs introduced through the NSW Premier’s Department. Rather than compete to deliver similar services, he wants organisations to work together, make better use of their resources and build on what is already happening in Moree.
Just Reinvest’s Moree manager, Mekayla Cochrane, is already working with local groups to strengthen those relationships.
One idea being explored is a youth leadership group that would give young people a greater say in decisions affecting their lives.
“We can actually create an ongoing kind of process where young people can advise not only Just Reinvest, but open that up to the broader community around what they want,” he said.
The proposal is still in its early stages, but Mr Brown hopes it could give young people a regular opportunity to speak directly with community organisations and government agencies.
He also wants to see more attention given to the people already doing good work in Moree, particularly those supporting young people and families.
While he acknowledges that crime and community safety concerns need to be reported, he believes those stories often overshadow the positive things happening around town.
“I think that’s a good kind of sign to say that community are actually looking for the good news story. Like what are the good things about our community?” he said.
“Especially because Moree is such a wonderful place and there’s so many amazing community members in Moree. And I feel like over the past couple of years we’ve been kind of stereotyped and tarnished.”
Mr Brown believes better communication between local organisations and the media could help bring more of those stories to light. He pointed to plans for a Youth Hub Day and other community activities, saying it was important that the voices of local people were heard alongside those of the organisations involved.
“I really would love to centre just the community voice on the ground as well,” he said.
As chief executive, Mr Brown also wants Just Reinvest NSW to do more to show the difference its work is making across the state. That means listening to communities and using their experiences alongside official statistics to build a clearer picture of what works.
“I feel like stepping into this appointment is an indication of a new direction that the organisation is seeking to go,” he said.
One of his biggest challenges will be securing continued funding. Just Reinvest NSW’s Mt Druitt project holds $2.36 million under the NSW Government’s Justice Reinvestment Grant Program Stage 2, a program whose term runs to 30 June 2027, according to the program’s published recipients list. Mr Brown wants to work with the government to ensure communities can continue the work they have started.
“I’m excited to be able to lead an organisation that means so much to me,” he said.
For Mr Brown, the new role is an opportunity to take what he has learned in Moree and help other communities across NSW, while remaining connected to the town where his involvement began.
