Court Network

Court Network Services in the Courts

Court Network is available in the Supreme Court, the County Court, various Magistrates' Courts, the Coroner's Court and the Family Court.

Court Network volunteers can:

• Provide support and information about going to Court
• Accompany a person on the day of Court
• Explain how the Courts and legal system operate (in person or by telephone)
• Show people around the Court beforehand, so that a person can become familiar with where they have to go on the day of the Court case
• Provide a person with a safe place in Court
• Refer people to other services that can help

Specialist Programs

A specialist Intervention Order Program is available for victims of domestic violence. A specialist service is also available to victims of sexual assault and their families. This includes:

• Pre-court information
• A viewing of Court facilities
• Support during Court and post-court

If someone has been murdered, or died as a result of an accident, culpable driving or industrial accident, a specialist Court service for families and friends attending inquiries, inquests or trials is available.

Telephone Service

The Statewide Court Network Telephone Information and Referral Service can assist people in preparing to attend Court.

This might involve:

• Provision of information about Court procedure
• Referral to legal services and community resources
• Assistance in organising interpreters, child care, disability access
• Making arrangements to ensure someone's safety when they are at Court
• Pre-booking a Networker to provide support on the day

Court Network in the Supreme Court

In addition to the above services, Court Network provides the following three programs in the Supreme Court.

1. Generic Service - This program has been established to assist people attending a trial, an appeal or for any other process. People are frequently referred to Court Network for this support by other agencies, Court personnel, police or counsel. Court Network also has an "outreach" model where people are approached and assistance is offered.
2. Information Desk - This program entails the provision of volunteers at the information desk located on the Ground Floor, 210 William Street which is staffed for approximately two to three hours daily. This service assists people each morning to locate the right Court, building, personnel, library, jury pool or other similar requests.
3. Education Program - This has been established for a number of years. It is designed primarily for VCE Legal Studies students. This program is run in conjunction with the Education Liaison Officer at the Law Institute of Victoria and is managed and staffed by Court Network. (Link to Tours)

Who can refer to Court Network?

You can self refer:

• Community Legal Services
• Migrant Resource Services
• Disability Services
• Women's Services
• Domestic Violence Services
• Centres Against Sexual Assault
• Victim Assistance Programs
• Child and Family Services
• Legal Practitioners
• Police
• Counsellors
• Human Services Organisations
• Community Support Services
• Witness Assistance Service
• Centrelink
• Drug and Alcohol Services

Contacts

Ballarat PO Box 1301 Mail Centre BALLARAT 3354 Tel: (03) 5336 6227	Bendigo Basement Office Pall Mall Bendigo Court House BENDIGO 3550 Tel: (03) 5440 4119
Geelong Geelong Law Courts Railway Terrace GEELONG 3220 Tel: (03) 5225 3356	Gippsland PO Box 46 NEWBOROUGH 3825 Tel: (03) 5127 6366 Fax: (03) 5127 6367