At an event hosted at Melbourne’s Government House – the official residence of Victorian Governor, Professor Margaret Gardner AC – the volunteers were celebrated by notable figures in the justice system, including Victorian Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Niall, Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan, and County Court’s CEO Jo Rainford.

Professor Gardner, also in attendance, said the past 45 years have been a testament to the organisation’s services, “which brings support for all who are engaged with our justice system to the fore”. On behalf of all Victorians, Professor Gardner extended her “warmest thanks”.

In a speech on the night, Court Network’s president and former judge of the Victorian County Court and Supreme Court of Victoria, Kathy Williams, shared that in the last financial year, volunteers have helped 71 people every hour, or one person every 50 seconds.

“Our staff and networkers deliver support not just in court but also in a way that addressed the individual needs of court users, and that might be as varied as providing information about the process in which a person is involved with supporting someone in the context of family violence, or making appropriate referrals,” Williams said.

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Four-and-a-half decades ago, the Court Network was founded by Carmel Benjamin. While volunteers now have a space carved out for themselves in number of different courts, Benjamin’s organisation started out in a disused cell in Prahran Magistrates’ Court.

Williams said much of what the Court Network has achieved in the years since is the result of Benjamin’s hard work and her “adamant belief in the importance of helping others in their most challenging times”. The success of the organisation today is a testament to her compassion, empathy and determination, Williams added.

In conversation with Lawyers Weekly on the night, executive director Julie Jones said she is “really proud” of the volunteers and how they work. Jones said whenever she finds herself in a court and can see the volunteers in action, she is “just in awe of what they do”.

“What I’m mostly proud of is that it is a people organisation in so many ways. The experiences and skills are the same, and they help so many court users and they’re very humble about it. I have conversations with them where they’re like, ‘I just gave this person a little bit of information’, and what they don’t realise is the ongoing impact of the information they give,” Jones said.

“That information is used for that person to then be confident, to know what they’re doing, to take part and participate a little bit more in the matter and be a little less anxious. That can flow over minutes, hours and even days. Networkers have such a long-lasting effect.”

Modesty was a common thread throughout the night. Despite the incredible work they do and the significant impact this has on court users, many of the volunteers I spoke to on the night downplayed their role. Much like Jones said, they may not have appreciated how even a small show of support can improve a person’s day in court.

Another thread was their dedication and passion for their work, with many sharing they find great joy in supporting those unfamiliar with the justice system. One woman told me she heads into court just one day a week, but recently increased her time so she could sit next to someone whose partner was involved in a criminal matter.

While some volunteers were relatively new to the Network, there were many more who have been part of the organisation for decades. They have countless stories about their time in courtrooms – where there are often scandalous titbits or major developments – but it was their enthusiasm and devotion for the work that shone through.

“On a personal note, my career took me to a Victorian regional court for a year where I had the great pleasure to meet some of the volunteers. Wednesday’s became the highlight of my week – and the days I miss most now – because one volunteer and I had a routine of morning catch-ups and lunch-adjournment coffees.”

As for next steps, Jones shared the Network hopes to pilot a program in the Family Court based in Sydney. If they can prove the worth and show evidence that this service has been critical for court users, Jones said they would “absolutely” look to make it permanent.

Over the next financial year, Jones said the telephone service will be expanded into South Australia and Tasmania’s Family Court.

“These are territories we have never been before, so that’s very new for us, and very exciting. It’s small steps but it’s absolutely something where we can show our worth firsthand and hopefully then be able to secure more funding going forward,” Jones said.