Local court push backed

FAMILY violence advocates have thrown support behind establishing a specialist court in Geelong.

Specialist family violence courts operate in Shepparton, Ballarat and Moorabbin, with others to open in Heidelberg and Frankston this year.

The courts are designed to provide greater security, comfort and choice for people experiencing family violence.

They include separate entrances, safe waiting spaces and interview rooms, remote witness facilities, child-friendly and culturally safe spaces, as well as staff trained to deliver effective and tailored family violence services.

Bethany Group access, support and family safety executive manager Bernadette McCartney is a member of the Barwon Area Integrated Family Violence Committee, a collection of non-government organisations working to implement initiatives across the

G21 region. Ms McCartney said the committee was fully behind establishing a specialist family court, describing the model as a game-changer.

G21 chief executive Giulia Baggio said with the recent merging of the Family Court into the broader Federal Court system, it was more important than ever that local families be provided with access to a specialist family violence court and magistrate, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

“A specialist magistrate overseeing all family violence proceedings would better ensure perpetrators are held to account, guarding against them ‘hiding’ within the complexity of the general magistrates court which deals with a broad range of legal matters,” Ms Baggio said.

Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said in the four years since the royal commission, the courts had been transforming their response to family violence to make court safer, ensure people had the support needed and keep perpetrators in view.

“Whether it’s specialist training for staff, more options for remote hearings across the court system, or building dedicated family violence courts across the state, we’re delivering on all the recommendations to ensure more Victorians affected by family violence can access justice safely and without fear or intimidation,” Ms Symes said.

“We’ll continue to monitor areas of high need for specialised specialist family violence courts, with consideration of additional sites to occur as part of the normal budget process.”

The royal commission recommended establishment of specialist family violence courts at all headquarter courts, of which Geelong Magistrates Court is one.

It is understood the state government considers it is well on its way to achieving the recommendation.