How we can support you
This page provides information about how the OPP can support you during the court process.
For information about other kinds of specialist support see Other support services.
The people you will meet from the prosecution team
Police informant
During the investigation you will meet the police officer in charge of the investigation. They are called the police informant. The police informant is the main point of contact between the police and the victim.
The police and the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) are different organisations with different roles, however they work together on criminal cases.
OPP solicitor and Victims and Witness Assistance Service (VWAS) social worker
After the case is referred to the OPP, the OPP solicitor and VWAS social worker will contact the victim. They will introduce themselves and ask how you would like to be contacted.
The OPP solicitor prepares the case for court. They are involved in the case as it moves through the court process.
When decisions need to be made about what will happen in the case, the OPP solicitor will collect all of the relevant information and ask a Crown Prosecutor or the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for instructions. This means that the Crown Prosecutor or DPP makes the final decision.
Further information about the role of VWAS social workers is below under Victims and Witness Assistance Service (VWAS).
The OPP solicitor and VWAS social worker will also:
- provide information to victims about the progress of the case
- ask for the views of victims before certain decisions are made
- explain the reasons for certain decisions to victims.
Prosecutor
When the case goes to court, the OPP solicitor will arrange for counsel (the prosecutor) to present the case in court. This could be a Crown Prosecutor, a private criminal barrister or an OPP solicitor advocate.
Depending on what happens in the case, the prosecutor might be involved in conferences with victims and witnesses before and after a court hearing.
You might hear the prosecutor called different names, for example:
- prosecution counsel
- the prosecution barrister
- counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
- Crown counsel
- the Crown Prosecutor or Senior Crown Prosecutor.
Victims and Witness Assistance Service (VWAS)
The Victims and Witness Assistance Service (VWAS) is part of the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP).
VWAS social workers and OPP solicitors work together to provide information and support to adult victims and witnesses during the court process.
VWAS social workers can provide you with:
- information about the prosecution process
- information about your rights and entitlements
- information about the progress of the case
- support during meetings with lawyers about the case
- support to go to court (for example, helping you with arrangements for giving evidence and being in court).
VWAS social workers can also refer you to specialist services for further support. This includes:
- Child and Youth Witness Service
- Victims Assistance Program
- Court Network
- Intermediaries.
Further information about these specialist support services is available here Other support services.
Special arrangements for giving evidence
If you have to give evidence, VWAS social workers can talk to you about the kinds of special arrangements that may be available to you.
Usually a victim or witness will give evidence inside the courtroom, however, there are special arrangements for giving evidence that may be available to some victims and witnesses. This includes children, young people, people with a cognitive impairment and victims of sexual offending or family violence.
Some victims and witnesses are entitled by law to these special arrangements. In other cases, the prosecutor will need to ask for permission from the magistrate or judge.
For example it may be possible to:
- give evidence away from the court room via a video link
- have a support person with you when you give evidence (provided this support person is not also a witness)
- have a court support dog with you when you give evidence
- have a screen in the court room so that you do not have to see the accused person while you give evidence
- close the court to the public while you give evidence.
Contact the Victims and Witness Assistance Service
You can contact VWAS by phone or email.
Phone:
03 9603 7425 or 1800 641 927 (toll free) 9am to 5pm
Email:
wasadmin@opp.vic.gov.au
This brochure explains the role of the OPP’s Victims and Witness Assistance Service.
This brochure is also available in the following languages:
Court support dogs
The OPP has two trained and fully accredited support dogs called Lucy and Kiki who provide comfort to victims and witnesses during the court process.
Lucy works at the OPP. Kiki works at the Child and Youth Witness Service.
Lucy is a chocolate labrador who was trained by Assistance Dogs Australia. Lucy can support you:
- during conferences with the OPP
- in the court room
- in the remote witness room.
Lucy is the first dog in Australia to be allowed into the witness box. Lucy is trained to lie next to your feet and be there for pats and cuddles when you are feeling anxious. She also loves games and can help to keep you calm while you are waiting for court to start.
If you would like to have a support dog with you at any stage, talk to the OPP solicitor or VWAS social worker and they will send a request to the program coordinator. As Lucy and Kiki are in high demand, unfortunately we cannot meet every request.
The OPP must also ask the magistrate or judge for permission to have Lucy sit with you during a court hearing.
Independent evaluation of the Court Dog Program
The OPP conducted an independent evaluation of the Court Dog Program in 2023. The research showed resounding endorsement of the program from victims, workers in the justice system and the public. Nearly 90 per cent of all victims reported that the court dog helped them to feel less overwhelmed, less anxious and more calm.
My child is disabled and going through a traumatic court experience could have been a lot worse if we’d not had the dog to help. When we talk about going to court we focus on how Kiki and Lucy made her feel, not the negative. Thanks to those who’ve piloted this project.(Parent of child victim)
The impact of the Court Dog Program was profound. It’s not something you can quantify or quite explain unless you yourself have been a victim of crime and had to go through the stress of the system. To have Lucy there made me feel loved and human, in what was otherwise a very dehumanising process. Lucy distracted me from being panicked before court and she eased my worries during cross examination. (Victim)
The report can be found here.
Follow Lucy on Instagram @courtdoglucy.
A victim case study
Chloe (not her real name) first met Lucy at her conference in 2020. The bond between them was instant and Lucy supported Chloe on a number of other occasions.
Lucy has an ongoing presence in the lives of Chloe and other victims through her Instagram page.
“I am really enjoying following Lucy on Instagram. The drop-in centre that I attend daily has laminated a photo of Lucy and put it on their photo wall – everyone loves her there,” Chloe posted on Lucy’s Instagram page.
Other comments from Chloe include:
- “I miss you so much Lucy. You turn tears into laughter. Miss you lovely.”
- “Aw Lucy I could do with a hug. All this social distance with humans makes me feel so sad.”
- “Lucy you are the biggest support of all time. I smile every time I see a photo of you.”
Chloe was asked some questions about what Lucy means to her.
What does it mean for you to know Lucy is available to support you?
“Going to court as a victim is terrifying. Although there is lots of human support the sheer look of Lucy increases my dopamine levels causing me a sense of calm and relaxation instantly. She is an extremely intelligent dog and plays a very important role in getting me through the court process.”
How does Lucy make you feel?
“Lucy is like my second strength. She has helped me to be strong and not give up. A simple hug or feeling her fur makes me feel I am loved. If there was such a name as Wonder Woman, that would be Lucy.”
Do you think this is an important program for the OPP to run?
“Absolutely yes!! Lucy plays an important role in both adult and child survivors of serious crimes committed on them. Lucy brings a smile, even on the hardest day .one could ever imagine. I could not stand and state my case without the comfort and the compassion of Lucy.”
Any other comments or feedback about the Lucy program?
“Lucy is majestic and has helped me cope with three years of suffering. She has made it so much easier. Lucy has even helped me with the mental health effects of COVID-19. Simply by having a picture of her gives me so much encouragement. I am so thankful to have Lucy’s support and feel she is the key to get me through the final stages of my trial. I am so proud to have a loyal friend like Lucy.”
Learn more about Lucy and how she supports victims and witnesses during the court process in this video:
How we will engage with you
The Victims’ Charter Act 2006 sets out principles for how victims and people adversely affected by crime should be treated by police, the OPP and victim support services.
You can expect that we will:
- treat you with courtesy, dignity and respect
- consider your particular needs and communication preferences
- provide you with information about support services, possible entitlements and how to access legal assistance
- refer you to relevant support services where appropriate.
The OPP also has obligations towards victims to:
- respect the rights and entitlements of victims as participants in criminal cases
- provide information about the progress of the case
- seek their views before certain decisions are made
- explain the reasons for certain decisions
- if the victim is a witness – inform the victim about the hearing process, their role as a witness and any special arrangements available to them
- as far as possible, minimise unnecessary contact at court between the victim and the accused person and their family, and protect the victim from intimidation by those people.
The OPP does not represent victims and witnesses
The OPP supports victims and witnesses during the court process but it is not the lawyer for victims and witnesses. The OPP prepares and conducts cases for the Director of Public Prosecutions who represents the Victorian community.
This means that the OPP cannot:
- talk about all of the evidence with victims and witnesses
- influence the evidence of victims and witnesses or help them to fill gaps in their evidence
- take instructions from victims and witnesses about how the case should be run.
This video explains the relationship between the OPP and victims of crime:
The OPP cannot provide legal advice or financial advice
The OPP cannot provide legal advice or financial advice to victims, their family members, or witnesses.
Further information about financial assistance is available here Your rights and entitlements.
The Financial Assistance brochure explains:
- the types of financial assistance and compensation that may be available to victims of crime
- how to access legal advice and assistance.
If you need legal advice, you can:
- use the find a lawyer referral service on the Law Institute of Victoria website
- find a local community legal centre by contacting the Federation of Community Legal Centres.
Communicating with you
If you prefer to talk to us in a language other than English, please let us know. We can arrange an interpreter for:
- conferences with the OPP
- giving evidence in court.
This service is free of charge for you.
When communicating with you we will consider:
- whether you want to be contacted
- how you would like to be contacted.
To help us communicate effectively with you:
- let us know if your contact details change
- provide information when requested
- let us know if you need more assistance
- give us honest feedback so that we can improve.
We can contact you in different ways
VWAS social workers can arrange to meet with victims, witnesses and family members at different stages during the court process. These meetings can be in person, over the phone or via video conferencing.
At these meetings you can:
- meet the OPP solicitor and the prosecutor who will present the case in court
- ask questions about the process and raise any concerns
- talk to the prosecution team about the process and what to expect.
At certain stages in the process the OPP solicitor and VWAS social worker will also contact victims to:
- provide updates on case progress
- ask victims for their views about certain decisions that need to be made in the case
- explain the reasons for certain decisions.
Privacy and confidentiality
We will not disclose your personal information, including your address and telephone number, except in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.
Complaints and feedback
If you would like to raise an issue about a case, your first step should be to contact the OPP solicitor. It may be possible for the OPP solicitor to resolve your issue quickly.
If you feel that the OPP has not met its obligations towards you, you are entitled to make a complaint. This includes victims of crime, family members of victims of crime and witnesses.
On our Complaints and feedback page you can find information about:
- how to make a complaint
- how we will respond to your complaint
- how to provide feedback to the OPP.