Member for Kiama Gareth Ward is pleased to see Kiama has continued to perform well in the category of new Justices of the Peace (JPs) over the past six years.

Figures released this week show that over the past six years, Kiama is second only to the much larger Wollongong state electorate when it comes to the number of JPs.

Kiama has 275 people who are JPs according to the most recent data from 2024 for a tally of 1959 across the past six years.

Wollongong has the highest with 414 in their total of 2636. Heathcote has the third-highest total (1378), followed by Shellharbour (810) and South Coast (757).

“Becoming a Justice of the Peace in NSW offers several benefits, including community recognition, professional development, and the opportunity to make a positive impact and assisting others,” Ward said.

“JPs also gain valuable skills like attention to detail and handling confidential information, which can be transferable to various types of employment.

“I encourage local residents who are eligible to consider becoming a NSW Justice of the Peace (JP) today and supporting our local towns and villages."

To be eligible for appointment as a NSW Justice of the Peace (JP), you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Be nominated by a NSW Member of Parliament (MP);
• Be an Australian citizen or a person who is entitled to vote at a general election for the Legislative Assembly;
• Be of good character; and
• Not be an undischarged bankrupt.

To find out more about eligibility and character, you can read the Guidelines on the appointment of Justices of the Peace: assessing eligibility and good character issued by the NSW Attorney General.

“Local JPs can also network with other experienced JPs and access training opportunities through organisations like the NSW Justice of the Peace Association (NSWJA)," Ward added.

“NSWJA also have their 2025 annual conference in November in Fairy Meadow and with over 2,800 active members is the leading voice for JPs in NSW."

To learn more information, please visit the Department of Communities and Justice website.