Positive, systemic change

Outcome 6

Trusted and authoritative voice on regional social issues, influencing better justice outcomes

We are recognised as a trusted source for evidence-based advice, with our reports and insights being regularly referenced by policymakers, media and advocacy organisations in the region. We lead and collaborate with regional partners on key advocacy campaigns and policy submissions that are priority issues for our communities.

During the first half of 2024, highlights include more than a dozen major media engagements featuring ARC’s CEO and directors, including:

Live-to-air and pre-recorded appearances on national, state and regional ABC News radio programs and bulletins.
Reporting on ABC News website.
Coverage on local commercial radio and television.
Print coverage in Bendigo Advertiser, Maryborough District Advertiser, Shepparton News etc.

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To achieve this outcome, we will track:

Impact of media coverage.
Advocacy and law reform activities, prioritising a regional focus.

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A key example of how this media presence has extended our influence, reinforced our role in advocating for rural communities and ensuring their needs are represented at the highest levels was the following national ABC story.

Next outcome

ARC Justice’s advocacy for Campbells Creek campers facing eviction from their land was the #1 ranked story Australia-wide on May 16-17 on the ABC News website.

Outcome 7

Amplifying client and community voice

We will amplify client and community voices in our advocacy and communication work and focus on elevating diverse voices.

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ARC Justice has consistently invested in research and advocacy that informs decision-makers of our community and client experiences of injustice and the benefits of systemic improvement.

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In 2023/24 we were able to speak directly to the Premier of Victora Jacinta Allan, Attorney-Generals of the Federal and Victorian Governments Mark Dreyfus KC and Jaclyn Symes, the Speaker of the Victorian Parliament Maree Edwards and several other federal and state MPs.

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We also welcomed the outgoing Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass to our Bendigo office and worked with her team to extend their service’s outreach to the regions.

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To achieve this outcome, we will track:

The role of community voices shared in our advocacy work.

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After the 2022 floods, ARC Justice supported impacted communities to access information and legal assistance to resolve disputed insurance claims. We shared community stories with a Federal Government committee. Read more about our advocacy.

Three people standing and speaking in a professional setting with a modern kitchen background. The person in the middle, wearing a suit and red tie, appears to be leading the conversation. To his right is a woman in a red blazer smiling, and to his left, a man in a suit with a patterned tie is attentively listening. In the foreground, a table with a bowl of apples is visible, with individuals seated nearby.

ARC Justice’s CEO Damian Stock (left) speaks with Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters during a visit to ARC’s Bendigo office.

Shining a light on flood insurance failures

In September 2024, ARC Justice was featured in an impactful ABC News story by Adele Ferguson, one of Australia’s most respected investigative journalists.

Known for exposing wrongdoing in sectors like financial services and healthcare, the journalist reached out to ARC Justice for expert commentary on low cash settlement offers from insurers that often leave flood victims with less than they deserve.
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The coverage shone a national spotlight on the challenges facing rural and regional communities in the wake of climate disasters.

The story, which aired across multiple ABC platforms, highlighted ARC Justice as a leading voice on the issue, underscoring the organisation’s deep understanding of the hardships faced by flood-affected residents in rural Victoria.
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ARC’s involvement in this high-profile story reflects its growth as a trusted and authoritative voice on social justice issues in regional Australia.
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By strategically investing in skilled staff, ARC Justice has strengthened its public profile, making it a go-to resource for national media on issues of fairness and accountability in the insurance industry.

Panoramic view of a eucalyptus forest with a clear dirt path and fallen leaves, after a flood, with water line obvious on tress.

Flood Water Receded, Echuca Village. Image: Nicholas Masters, via Shire of Campaspe photography competition.

Input shapes proposed flood insurance reform

In late 2023, ARC Justice made a written submission to the Federal Government’s inquiry into insurers’ responses to claims after the catastrophic 2022 floods, and in early 2024, appeared before the inquiry committee to give oral evidence.

Drawing on the experiences of community members, ARC Justice highlighted widespread issues, such as delays, inadequate communication and disputes over coverage that left many flood-affected people without clear recourse or adequate support.

ARC Justice’s submission helped shape the inquiry’s final report, Flood Failure to Future Fairness, released in late October 2024, with 14 of the report’s 86 recommendations informed, at least in part, by ARC’s insights.

Key recommendations included requiring insurers to provide clear advice on the rights and risks involved in cash settlements, introducing a cooling-off period for these settlements and mandating referrals to free legal services to ensure people understand the terms they’re offered.

ARC also pushed for insurers to assign a single point of contact and to establish an independent panel of technical experts to provide objective building reports. These were reflected in the committee’s recommendations. If implemented by government and industry, these changes pave the way for fairer, more transparent outcomes for disaster-affected communities.

Through its advocacy, ARC Justice amplified the voices of rural Victorians, ensuring their needs are central to policy reform and that insurers are held accountable in future disasters.

Person in green shirt and red glasses using a laptop at a wooden desk with documents.

ARC Justice Community Projects Lead Dr Prue Bagley spoke to the inquiry.