From ACJI to the Warren Centre for Civil Justice
From ACJI to the Warren Centre for Civil Justice
For more than a decade, the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation (ACJI) has contributed to strengthening Australia’s justice systems through rigorous research, evaluation, and collaboration. Established within Monash Law in 2011, ACJI built a strong reputation for improving justice processes, advancing non‑adversarial approaches, and helping community members, practitioners, courts and agencies understand how people experience justice systems. As the Centre has grown, so too has the breadth of its work. Critically, the Centre has retained its core focus of providing high-quality research, research training and capacity building.
A recent Monash University review recommended that the Centre adopt a clearer and more focused identity. While ACJI had been founded with an emphasis on appropriate dispute resolution and system innovation, its contemporary work now sits firmly within civil justice research. It became clear that the Centre needed an identity that reflected its expertise, distinguished its mission, and communicated its purpose to the public, partners, and the broader community. This transition aligns with the significant and growing body of civil justice scholarship within Monash Law, including research on legal problems and services, coronial systems, injury compensation, costs and pricing, access to remedies, and the operation of civil courts and tribunals.
Warren Centre Deputy Director, Dr Jess Mant and Associate Professor Marc Trabsky introduce day 1 of the "Exploring Creative Research Methods in Socio-Legal Studies" workshop.
In 2026, the Centre will become the Warren Centre for Civil Justice, honouring the distinguished contribution of The Honourable Marilyn Warren AC KC, former Chief Justice of Victoria. Marilyn Warren’s long‑standing commitment to fairness, accessibility, and the proper functioning of civil courts has had a transformative influence on our civil justice landscape. The new name reflects the Centre’s aspiration to advance this vital work through research that not only informs policy, but improves people’s real‑world experiences of justice.
The Warren Centre for Civil Justice will continue ACJI’s legacy of high-quality, independent, evidence‑based research. What will change is the clarity of our mission: to strengthen civil justice systems so they are fair, efficient, and accessible for everyone. The Centre will also serve as a national hub for collaboration, bringing together researchers, courts, government agencies, legal practitioners, and community organisations to work on shared civil justice challenges.
Dr Mary Tumelty, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, University College Cork, presenting her research at a seminar on civil justice at Monash Law.
Visitors familiar with ACJI will continue to find the projects, expertise, and collaborations they rely on. Over time, the website and all Centre communications will shift to the new branding and identity. All existing ACJI content will remain available, and links to ACJI webpages will automatically redirect to the new Warren Centre site.
The transition from ACJI to the Warren Centre for Civil Justice marks an important milestone. It reflects our clearer identity, sharper focus, and a renewed commitment to improving civil justice for all. The Centre’s work will continue to evolve as we give effect to our vision of shaping better civil justice access and outcomes through outstanding and impactful research.