Victoria Faces Critical Shortage of Justices of the Peace Volunteers
Advocates demand government funding to recruit new volunteers as current numbers dwindle significantly.
1Declining Volunteer Workforce
Victoria faces a critical shortage of active Justices of the Peace, with official records showing 3,699 registered volunteers but only about 2,000 currently active. Many registered individuals are elderly, residing in nursing homes, or unable to serve, leaving the state with significantly fewer active personnel compared to Queensland or New South Wales.
2Retail Space Innovation
To improve accessibility, volunteers like Loretta Cormack have moved services into retail environments such as the Altona Bunnings hardware store. This shift aims to bypass the intimidating nature of police stations, which are often understaffed and inaccessible, while providing a safe, high-traffic location that better serves the local community's legal document needs.
3Funding Gap Challenges
The Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices reports that government funding for training has been absent since the 2021–2022 budget cycle. Without state-backed financial support, the organization struggles to recruit and train the next generation of volunteers, leaving the current aging workforce to manage an ever-increasing volume of legal document requests.
4Political Campaign Demands
Ahead of the November 28 state election, the association is lobbying political parties to commit to training 5,000 new recruits. They are also seeking a long-term commitment to add 500 new volunteers annually. Currently, neither major party has provided a firm financial commitment to address these specific training and recruitment requirements.
5Previous Recruitment Efforts
The Department of Justice and Community Safety previously managed a multi-year recruitment campaign between 2022 and 2025, which successfully appointed 800 new Justices of the Peace. While these additions provided relief in specific regions like Mildura, advocates argue that these efforts remain insufficient to meet the broader, growing demand across the entire state.
6Essential Legal Functions
Justices of the Peace perform vital public services, including witnessing statutory declarations, affidavits, and certifying true copies of legal documents. While doctors and pharmacists can technically perform some of these tasks, their busy professional schedules often prevent them from assisting, making the dedicated volunteer network essential for maintaining efficient public legal processes.
7Regional Disparities Observed
Regional areas like Sunraysia have managed to maintain service levels due to a late intake of 15 volunteers three years ago. However, volunteers in these areas remain concerned about long-term sustainability. The reliance on sporadic, localized recruitment drives highlights the lack of a consistent, state-wide strategy to replace the aging volunteer base.
8Future Service Sustainability
The future of the Justice of the Peace system in Victoria depends on bridging the gap between an aging volunteer demographic and modern community needs. Without renewed government investment and a structured recruitment pipeline, the state risks a further decline in service availability, potentially hindering citizens' ability to process essential legal documentation.