Terry O'Connell,
Retired Director, Real Justice Australia

Terry O’Connell is a restorative pioneer. A 30-year veteran NSW police officer who [in 1991] developed the Wagga Wagga Police restorative conference script [and associated restorative questions] to deal with youth crime by involving all stakeholders. Unique to his approach was that he intuitively developed the practice and later [with the assistance of others] located theories able to explain ‘why’ the process consistently delivered positive outcomes.

 

Terry realised that he had developed a ‘relational practice’ with universal application in all facets of our lives. Ted Wachtel was inspired by Terry’s presentation in Doylestown [PA, USA] in 1994 and created the Real Justice organisation then IIRP to promote the use of restorative processes.

 

Terry’s work has had a significant influence in restorative developments in many countries and across a wide range of settings and applications. Terry’s experience of collaborating with LCCS over the last two decades has been an importance influence in the evolution of his thinking and practice.

 

Terry’s mantra is that ‘every-day is a school day!’ His work is featured in a number of Australian award-winning ABC documentaries including ‘Facing The Demons’, ‘Murder He Wrote’, and ‘Justice For All’. Terry was awarded a Churchill Fellowship; an Order of Australia Medal; an Honorary Doctorate from Australian Catholic University. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and has a Social Welfare degree [CSU, Wagga Wagga].

Terry has been married to Margaret for 53 years, has seven children and fourteen grandchildren.