Membership
Membership with the RVAHJ provides all Justices with a community to connect with!
Community
Find a 'Justice Of The Peace' in your area
Click here to contact a Branch in Victoria
Association
Learning and development through continuous professional development at our RVAHJ Training Academy
The RVAHJ is made up of volunteers called collectively Honorary Justices that include justices of the peace and bail justices. Justices of the peace provide document witnessing and certification services to the community both during and outside business hours. Bail justices primarily work outside business hours and on weekends to conduct hearings in relation to applications for bail or remand, and applications for interim accommodation orders relating to children.
LATEST NEWS
5,000 JPs Now: Parliament House Gathering
On Thursday 27 August, more than seventy members, along with family and friends, gathered on the steps of Parliament House to call for the recruitment of 5,000 new Justices of the Peace, so every Victorian keeps access to these essential services. President Rodney Lavin JP addressed the gathering, alongside former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Kel Glare AO APM and several Members of Parliament. The campaign continues through the November State election and beyond. Please sign and share our petition, which aims for 20,000 signatures, by Clicking Here
Service Awards Dinner and Luncheon
Join us to celebrate our members' years of service at the RVAHJ Service Awards Dinner on Tuesday 17 November 2026, or the Service Awards Luncheon on Tuesday 2 February 2027. Tickets open to all members from 1 November. Book the dinner by Clicking Here, or the luncheon by Clicking Here
New eLogbook: JPLog.net
Members can now record their duties in our new eLogbook, JPLog.net. Head to the site and choose "Sign up for an account" to get started. The old logbook stays open for Queensland land transactions and for downloading past records. Find out more on our eLogbook page, by Clicking Here
Request Training for Your Branch
Want RVAHJ training at your branch or group? Our Training Request form is back online. Tell us the course you're after and your preferred date, and our training team will be in touch to organise it. Request training by Clicking Here
Welcome to Our New Directors
In March 2026 the Board welcomed two new Directors, Dr Tevita P Topui JP and Karthick Thanigaimani JP. Together with Joel Buckley JP they make up the Association's IT Committee, looking after our websites and member systems and keeping pace with the ever-growing demands of IT, cyber security and the privacy and data laws that come with them. Meet the full Board by Clicking Here
Inaugural Training Session March 2021
Our first face to face training for more than 12 months was held on Saturday 20th March 2021. It was run in conjunction with the Annual Awards and Dinner event, a new initiative for all Honorary Justices to attend to get the latest information and to ask those burning questions that we all have. The training was also split into 2 streams after lunch, i.e. Bail Justices and Justices of the Peace focused on specific issues and information for each. The event was attended with over 130 Honorary Justices on the day, and resources from the session are available on request, just contact our Elwood office for more details. We also had HJSS Manager presenting providing an update on the current and planned activities. If you are interested then contact us at [email protected] for more details....you can also find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
RVAHJ Certified Trainers - Inaugural Training Session Nov 2019
Our first RVAHJ Certified Trainers graduated at our 'train the trainers' workshop on Saturday 2nd November 2019. We now have a total of 9 certified trainers who are able to provide training across the areas of "Powers of Attorney, Advanced Care Directive, Oaths and Affirmations, Voluntary Assisted Dying, What is an Honorary Justice and Overview of Your Association RVAHJ". It was a great day with a lot of exchange of information and experiences over the course of the day. We are looking to run another training workshop regionally around Swan Hill / Mildura way with already a number of people already booked. If you are interested then contact us at [email protected] and we will see you there....you can find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
Annual Dinner and Awards
Vic Government House Service (25+yrs) Awards 2024
The RVAHJ held its years of service awards (25++yrs) ceremony at the Victorian Government House in April 2024. The Victorian Governor is the Chief Patron of the RVAHJ and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to host the ceremony at Government House. Both Her Excellency the Governor and the RVAHJ President provide a short presentation and then spent several hours meeting and speaking to all at the ceremony. We look forward to this being a regular biennial event...you can find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
Annual Dinner 2021
Our recent annual dinner during March 2021 was one of the best ever attended with a number of new awards for Life Members, Special Appreciation awards for remote witnessing services and 10 to 45 years of service to the community and supporting the association given out. It was a great night for all those who attended to hear the guest speakers and the music from a local 2 piece band. We also had this year two extremely interesting, relevant and entertaining key note speakers (Treasurer & Assistant Commissioner Police) provide their perspective of the role of Honorary Justices that was well appreciated by all...you can find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
Annual Dinner 2020
Due to the Covid-19 extended shutdowns over the year, the annual dinner was cancelled and combined with an expanded event including Training and Annual Dinner in 2021.
Annual Dinner 2019
Our recent annual dinner during August 2019 was well attended with a number of new awards for 10 & 15 years of service to the community and supporting the association given out. It was a fun night for all those who attended, and received their individual awards and recognition. We also had a very interesting key note speaker supporting the role of Honorary Justices that was well appreciated by all...you can find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
Annual Dinner 2018
Our recent annual dinner during August 2018 was another great evening for all those who attended, and received awards and recognition for their service to the community, while supporting the association.
We also had a very interesting key note speaker that was enjoyed by all...you can find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
Annual Dinner 2017
Our recent annual dinner during August 2017 was another great evening for all those who attended, and received awards and recognition for their service to the community, while supporting the association.
We also had a very interesting key note speaker for the evening, as we have had every year...you can find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
Annual Dinner 2016
Our recent annual dinner at the end of 2016 was another year of standing room only, with all tickets being snapped up by members.
We managed to get another great key note speaker...you can find out more by viewing the pictures, by Clicking Here
QUICK LINKS
Peer Support Programs
The RVAHJ has developed support programs to assist all Honorary Justices for when they are needing assistance. These programs can be accessed by all Justices of the Peace (JP) and Bail Justices (BJ) irrespective of whether they are association members.
JP Help Line - support network is now available, < Click Here >
BJ Peer Support Program - contact HJSS for details.
Latest Custodes
The next edition of our RVAHJ Magazine - Custodes is now available, read the latest edition online, by Clicking Here
E-News
Find out the latest news to keep up to date through the RVAHJ E-News online, by Clicking Here
Gift Ideas
Lost for gift ideas, then take a look at what we have on offer at the RVAHJ store, by Clicking Here
Victorian Legislation Link
Are you in need to review a specific Victorian Legislation? Then you can find what you're looking for at the primary source for Victorian Legislation; find Bills considered by Parliament; Acts of Parliament and statutory rules. Review all Victorian Legislation by, Clicking Here
Federal Legislation Link
Are you in need to review a specific Federal Legislation? Then you can find what you're looking for by exploring the Federal Register of Legislation. Review all Federal Legislation by, Clicking Here
Notary Public Link
Are you in need of a Notary Public rather than an Honorary Justice (JP & BJ) for overseas documents, then you can find one in your area by looking at the 'Find a Notary' page by, Clicking Here
Consulates In Australia Link
There are a number of different documents needed by various countries that require attestation by an authorised witness, sometimes a Justice of the Peace, a Notary Public or others. We recommend contacting the relevant consulate or embassy to confirm the specific requirements for the type of documentation that is needed to be witnessed. DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade) provides a comprehensive Consular Listing for all countries in Australia...to find out more, Click Here
Our Members
RVAHJ provides great support to Honorary Justices for any questions they may have as well as keeping us updated to changes that are made to legislation, which we have had a number since 2014; and more importantly on how to interpret and apply it practically to support the needs of Victorian community.
RVAHJ has always provided the voice for BJs and JPs to support the community within Victoria. In doing so it has kept members updated of any changes for Honorary Justices’ duties as well as providing training and support. All RVAHJ branches provide a non-threatening and supportive role to members, an opportunity to discuss experiences. Our popular Custodes magazine and E News continues to deliver excellent and immediate information and I can only recommend highly to all of the ongoing support the RVAHJ provides to its Members.
I have been with the RVAHJ for over 30 years as a member and past admin officer. I was the main point of contact for members, as well as being a JP during this time. It was an honour to be able to speak to members about any questions they may have, and be able to provide practical answers based on my own experience as a JP. The RVAHJ provides for members the benefit and comfort of knowing that should they be confronted with an unusual matter then the RVAHJ is just a phone call away ready to assist with answers.
The RVAHJ, for over 100 years has and continues to offer great ongoing support to all Honorary Justices, particularly in providing guidance to sorting out difficult procedural issues, ongoing education, support and is always ready and able to defend the position and rights of its members.
Royal Victorian Association
of Honorary Justices
PO Box 317, Elwood 3184
53 Broadway, Elwood, 3184
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (03) 9525 7099
Office Hours: Mon - Thur 9.00am to 3.30pm