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Dedicated family violence court opens in Victoria
An expert and dedicated court system has been set up in Victoria’s south-east to handle the greater care and experience necessary to hear cases from family violence victims.
Naomi Neilson
The dedicated court has been designed to provide greater security, comfort and choice for people experiencing family violence by offering separate entrance, safe places and interview rooms, remote witness facilities and child safe and culturally safe spaces.
Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said the government is committed to building specialist and dedicated courts across the state to ensure that more Victorians affected by family violence can access justice “safely and without fear or intimidation”.
“We are supporting victim-survivors in every way that we can as we work to stamp out the scourge of family violence in our community,” Ms Hennessy said in a statement.
All specialist staff working at the court take part in the ongoing family violence learning and development program to ensure they are equipped to meet the needs of the users.
The facility is one of five specialist family violence courts rolling out across Victoria. Its family violence courts are already operational in two locations. The project delivers on key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence and ensures that there is consistency in family violence functions and services across courts.
“With dedicated services and specially-trained staff based right here in our community, all of us can be assured that expert help is close at hand for those living with family violence,” member for Bentleigh, Nick Staikos, said.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
