In a landmark step to improve access to justice, the National Justice Project has launched Hear Me Out in Victoria. Hear Me Out is a free, open-access AI-powered complaints platform that not only guides users to the right complaint body but now helps them write and lodge their complaint.
For thousands of Australians who have struggled to have their voices heard, this expansion marks a breakthrough moment. By combining cutting-edge technology with legal expertise, Hear Me Out is dismantling long-standing barriers to accessing the justice system, by giving people the power to be heard, supported, and to seek redress. By supporting people to access complaint pathways, we are promoting individual redress as well as the collective power of the community to identify and address systemic issues.
The launch was announced at the National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference, where co-founder Professor Daniel Ghezelbash unveiled the Victorian rollout during a powerful session on legal innovation and technology.
Developed by the National Justice Project in partnership with UNSW’s Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law and many other generous partners, this new expansion has been made possible through funding from the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner.
After six months of impact in NSW, with over 2,000 user submissions, Hear Me Out now includes Victorian complaint bodies and a groundbreaking new feature: the Complaint Writing Tool, which generates clear, effective complaints based on a few simple user inputs.
“We are extremely proud to be expanding Hear Me Out to Victoria and introducing our new Complaint Writing Tool,” said Adjunct Professor George Newhouse, the CEO of the National Justice Project.
“The first six months have shown us that change is possible, but only when we redesign systems to be transparent, accessible, and fair. The data has revealed just how complex and isolating the complaints process can be for people facing disadvantage. Hear Me Out cuts through that confusion and ensures that people are heard.”
Professor Daniel Ghezelbash, Director of the UNSW Kaldor Centre, said:
“This expansion is a powerful example of how technology can be used to break down barriers to justice. Hear Me Out shows that AI can be harnessed for good to empower people who have too often been shut out of systems designed to protect them. By helping users to not only find the right complaints body but actually write their complaint, we’re turning access to justice into a reality, not a slogan.”
Dean Moutopoulos, Hear Me Out Project Lead at the National Justice Project, said:
“We look forward to working with communities and stakeholders in Victoria to bring the benefits of Hear Me Out to you. Hear Me Out is designed for anyone facing injustice and needing direction, as well as community service providers hoping to provide enhanced services to the community. Together we can make sure people know their rights and options, and are empowered to take action.”
For too long, people who have experienced discrimination, mistreatment, or systemic disadvantage have been left to navigate complex complaints systems alone. Hear Me Out changes that by making access to justice more efficient, and more equitable.
