Administrative changes at the Australian Institute of Criminology
As of July 1 2011, some administrative changes to the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) and the Criminology Research Council (CRC) have come into effect. The AIC is Australia’s national research and knowledge centre on crime and justice. It seeks to promote justice and reduce crime by undertaking and communicating evidence-based research to inform policy and practice.
The AIC and CRC were established in 1972 under the Criminology Research Act 1971 (CR Act) as a Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act Agency. In late 2010, the Australian Government legislated amendments to the CR Act to merge the AIC and the CRC, and to transfer them, on 1 July 2011 from governance under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act) to a single entity (the AIC) regulated under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act). This is consistent with Government policy for managing statutory agencies.
What this means
The AIC will continue its key role as Australia’s knowledge centre for crime and criminal justice, developing and publishing evidence based research to assist governments and policing agencies in policy development and practice.
- There will be no reduction in functions due to the transfer to the FMA Act; it is essentially a governance and accountability change.
- The AIC Board ceases and the Director assumes all responsibility for the effective management of the AIC.
- A new Criminology Research Advisory Council begins operation. Comprised of the CRC representatives from each jurisdiction, the Council will advise the Director on strategic research priorities, communications and on the research grants program.
- The AIC assumes the responsibility for the annual CRC research grants - on the advice for the new Criminology Research Advisory Council
The functions of the CRC are absorbed into the AIC
- The CRC ceases, but the existing Council members become the new Advisory Council members.
- All jurisdictions continue to provide funds annually for the purposes of making criminology research grants.
- The CRC Grants program is renamed as the Criminology Research Grants program - with no major change to the annual research grants process.
Under these arrangements, the Australian Institute of Criminology will retain its capacity to provide high-quality independent research and advice to governments, policing agencies and corrections services; and the Criminology Research Grants program will continue to foster and support research that is relevant to current and future public policy issues.
Home > Capital news > Administrative changes at the Australian Institute of Criminology