Support services at VCAT

We offer a range of support services including interpreters, disability, security, family violence and Koori support. 

Make sure you let us know what support you need to early as possible - when you apply to VCAT or get a notice from us.

If you’ve been in touch with us about support before you come to VCAT, see our customer service staff at the counter or meet the support person at the location you’ve agreed on before the hearing.

You can also contact us by phone, email, post or in person. Our staff can help answer questions about the VCAT process, but they can’t give you legal advice about your case or the outcome.

Who you can bring to VCAT

If you need an interpreter, contact us to arrange a professional interpreter (at no cost to you) before the hearing.

Make sure you ask for an interpreter as early as you can.

We connect with a large network of interpreters in 160 languages. Tell us in English what your language is when you ask for an interpreter. It’s best to ask when you apply to VCAT or as soon as possible after we’ve sent you your hearing date.

We don’t allow a relative or friend to interpret for you at a hearing.

If you’re affected by family violence, we have a family violence support worker who can support you. They will work with you to make sure you are safe at the hearing and have access to justice. 

You can email fvsupport@courts.vic.gov.au, or call the VCAT family violence support worker on 03 9628 9856 during business hours.

Read more about family violence support at VCAT

Most of our hearing locations are accessible. Contact us for accessibility information about a venue.

We can also organise support for people with disability at VCAT.

• We can arrange an assistive listening device or hearing loop for your hearing, compulsory conference or mediation. Contact us so we can have these facilities ready for you.
• You can also ask to attend VCAT by telephone. 

Our disability liaison officers can support you to access our services and venues.

Ask for a disability liaison officer to help:

• Email us at vcat.disability.access@courts.vic.gov.au
• Call us on 1300 01 8228.

Find out more about disability services at VCAT
 

We offer support to ensure VCAT is culturally safe and inclusive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We can help you with:

• booking a Koori hearing room
• organising a Koori Engagement Officer to attend your hearing or mediation with you
• general information and advice about VCAT processes.

Call our Koori Helpline to speak to a Koori Engagement Officer on 0417 516 335, Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm.
 
Read more about Koori support at VCAT

To find articles about how to complete an application form, including information you need to provide, see: Application help.

VCAT offers a range of hearing room technology options, including:

• assistive listening devices
• audio visual equipment
• hearing loops
• smart boards
• remote witness facilities
• telephone conference facilities
• video conference facilities.

You can get information about:

• the availability of technology at VCAT hearing locations
• how to apply to use technology in a hearing
• testing of equipment before the hearing
• any technical requirements and restrictions
• fees that apply to some types of technology.

Contact us to confirm the availability of hearing room technology at different locations.

Trauma informed practice at VCAT

What is trauma?

Trauma refers to both traumatic events and a person’s response to such events.
Traumatic events may include: 

• serious accidents 
• physical assaults
• sexual assaults or abuse  
• family and personal violence 
• death of a family member
• witnessing traumatic events involving another person
• intergenerational trauma.

Traumatic events affect people differently, and their responses can vary considerably.  For example, responses may include avoidance of the issue, outbursts of anger or anxiety, the reliving of traumatic events, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm and threats of self-harm. 

When is trauma relevant in VCAT proceedings?

Due to the extent of VCAT’s jurisdiction and the diversity of those who are involved in VCAT cases (as parties or witnesses), trauma may be relevant in many VCAT cases and related matters.
Experience of trauma can impact parties and witnesses at VCAT in various ways, such as a party or witness may have difficulties in discussing or recounting the traumatic event or fear the hearing process for a range of personal reasons.

Addressing the impact of trauma on participants in VCAT cases

You can expect VCAT members and staff to:

• listen to you and explain what to expect from VCAT in relation to the case
• treat you with courtesy, respect, understanding and dignity as a participant in VCAT cases
• demonstrate integrity, confidentiality and openness in how we handle the case
• provide you with appropriate information and support (or referrals to other support networks)
• enable your participation in the case, considering any specific needs you may have.

The ‘presiding member’ is the VCAT member responsible for the management of hearings. Subject always to VCAT’s obligation to provide procedural fairness to all parties, the member may take various steps to protect a party or witness from unnecessary trauma, intimidation and distress, or unjustified interference with their privacy.

For example, the presiding member may allow a party or witness to attend and give evidence remotely or from a remote witness room, intervene to prevent improper questioning of a party or witness (particularly where the party seeking to ask questions is the alleged perpetrator of violence or abuse) or make a pseudonym order so that a party or witness cannot be directly identified, or a suppression order limiting publication of information that may identify a party or witness. 

Who do I contact for trauma support?

If you are: 

• an applicant, you can indicate your need for support on the application form (under ‘hearing arrangements’);  
• a respondent or joined party, you can email VCAT to request any support you require;
• a witness, but not a party to the case, you should speak to the party who has asked you to give evidence and request they make any necessary arrangements.  You can ask them to keep you informed about the hearing date (and to notify VCAT of any dates that you are unavailable) and when VCAT’s decision is published.

For family violence support, call 9628 9856 or email fvsupport@courts.vic.gov.au

For disability support, call 1300 018 228 or email vcat.disability.access@courts.vic.gov.au

For Koori support, call 0417 516 335 or email koori.support@vcat.vic.gov.au 

For all other enquiries, call 1300 018 228

These teams can:

• answer questions about VCAT’s processes
• help you complete your VCAT application if you have difficulties doing so 
• provide support, information and referral throughout your involvement with VCAT 
• refer you to legal, internal and external support services (e.g. Court Network provides volunteers to support parties during VCAT hearings)
• co-ordinate adjustments or arrangements for the hearing (e.g. hearing loops or remote witness facilities).

We will arrange an interpreter (including Auslan interpreters) where required. As a hearing may not be able to proceed without an interpreter, any request for an interpreter should be made when you are first seeking for a hearing to be scheduled for your case, or as soon as possible after you have been given a hearing date.

VCAT staff cannot provide legal advice or discuss the evidence you will give.

External support agencies

We work with a range of external support agencies including: 

Blue Knot Foundation - National Centre for Complex Trauma
Call 1300 657 380 (9am - 5pm) or visit www.blueknot.org.au

Beyond Blue - 24/7 Support for anxiety, depression and mental health issues
Call 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au (online chat service also available 24/7)

13YARD - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders crisis support
Call 13 92 76 or visit www.13yarn.org.au

1800 Respect - Information, counselling and support for people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence
Call 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au

Q Life - Support for LGBTIQ+ people and their loved ones
Call 1800 184 527 (3pm - 12am) or visit www.QLife.org.au/contact-us (online chat service also available 24/7)

PANDA - Support service for parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood
Call 1300 726 306 (Monday - Friday 9am - 7.30pm and Saturday 9am - 4pm) or visit www.panda.org.au/contact

Open Arms - Support service for veterans and families
Call 1800 011 046 or visit www.OpenArms.gov.au

Lifeline - National crisis support 
Call 13 11 14 or visit www.Lifeline.org.au (online chat service also available 24/7)

Head to Health - National mental health support service
Call 1800 595 212 (Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5pm) or visit www.HeadToHealth.org.au