JLD Restorative Practices is a business partnership that brings together the combined experience of two of Tasmania’s most well known, experienced and respected advocates and practitioners of restorative practices.

The partners are:

Les DRELICH

Les is a social worker with over 30 years of practice experience including community corrections, child protection, child and family case management and community youth justice. Les has managed senior practice responsibilities for the Tasmanian Government including Senior Social Worker for the Child Protection Board for 15 years and Manager of Community Youth Justice in Southern Tasmania for 6 years. He was involved in the development of child protection services in this State and was a prime advocate for the introduction of legal protection for victims of child sexual abuse. Les has been a speaker at national conferences and numerous Tasmanian forums. He was largely responsible for the introduction of restorative practices within Community Youth Justice in Southern Tasmania, including the training of youth justice facilitators. Over his extensive career Les has developed and delivered training to various disciples including teaching, medical, social work, law enforcement and legal professionals.

John LENNOX

John is a former Police Officer who has had 30 years experience in community policing, training and conferencing of juvenile offenders. He was an early advocate of conferencing in Tasmania Police and has been largely responsible for training of Authorized Police Officers (pursuant to Youth Justice Act 1997) since 1997. He has also delivered training in restorative practices to all police cadets since 2004. He has presented papers at National and State conferences and attended international conferences. He has contributed to the development of Tasmania Police youth policy and the development of a revised Authorized Officer training course. In recent years, he has advocated restorative practices in schools and provided personal development courses to teachers and students, TAFE social worker courses and other non-government agencies.

The award of two commendations by Tasmania Police has recognized his work in this area.

The partners of JLDRP through their collective experience believe that the traditional manner of interrelationships in the community alienates a significant sector of the community, particularly those persons that are traditionally socially or economically disadvantaged, leading to a propensity for anti-social and criminal behaviour.

The outcome is a dramatic increase in the disengagement of young people from education, from social interaction and ultimately leading to an explosion of criminal activity and a huge increase in the prison population.

Restorative practices commencing at an early stage within education and flowing on to all aspect of our social relationships is a proven method of improving the manner in which persons relate to each other in socially positive ways leading to increased community safety.

JLD Restorative Practices understands the Tasmanian community and has extensive professional networks which enhances their service delivery.