On this page

  • About intermediaries

  • Eligibility

  • Referrals

  • New location

  • Program history

  • Careers

The Intermediary Program provides communication specialists to police and people who work in the courts to help them communicate better with victims and witnesses. This supports victims and witnesses to give clear evidence in a police interview or in a court hearing.

The aim of the program is to reduce the trauma experienced by victims and provide greater access to justice.

Referrals can be made by participating police stations and courts.

About intermediaries

Intermediaries have experience working with people with a range of communication needs.

They have a professional background in:

  • psychology
  • speech pathology
  • occupational therapy
  • social work.

Intermediaries can support people from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.

An intermediary is an impartial officer of the court. This means they have a responsibility to promote justice and uphold the law.

Watch the below video to learn more about intermediaries.

 

Video transcript: the role of an intermediary

Female voice:

"What is an intermediary?"

"Sometimes you may have to talk to the police about something."

"Or, sometimes you may have to go to court and talk to a Judge."

"An intermediary’s job is to make sure everyone understands each other in police interviews and in court."

"An intermediary is an expert in helping people communicate with other people."

"Intermediaries can work with children and young people, and some adults who have a disability."

"Intermediaries can assist complainants in a sexual offending matter, or witnesses in a homicide matter."

"They will find out the best way for you to explain things and answer questions."

"They might have a chat with you, talk about pictures, or play some games with you."

"The intermediary will see if using words, pictures and writing helps everyone understand each other."

"They will also try different things to see what helps you stay calm if you get nervous."

"This will make it easier for you to explain things and answer questions."

"At the police interview, the intermediary will help the police officer find the best way to talk with you."

"Then, they might be in the room while the police officer is talking with you."

"The intermediary will help if you or the police officer find it hard to understand each other."

"They might also tell the police officer if there are other things that might help you stay calm enough to talk with them."

"The police officer will then decide what to do."

"If you have to go to court, the intermediary will talk to the judge and lawyers about how to make it as easy as possible for you to answer questions and talk to people in the courtroom."

"Then they will listen while you’re answering questions."

"They will tell the judge if they think something is hard to understand or explain, so it can be made easier for you."

"The intermediary might also tell the Judge if there are other things that help you stay calm enough to talk with people in the courtroom."

"The Judge will then decide what to do."

"Intermediaries help make sure that everyone has the best chance to ask and answer questions as well as they can."

Eligibility

The Intermediary Program provides support to eligible witnesses (children, young people and adults with a cognitive impairment) who are:

  • victims in sexual offence matters, or
  • witnesses in homicide matters.

Adults with a cognitive impairment, as defined in the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (External link), includes people who live with:

  • mental illness
  • intellectual disability
  • dementia, or
  • brain injury.

At the video and audio recorded statement (VARE) stage, all children and young people are eligible. Adults who have a cognitive impairment are also eligible.

For court hearings, a child is eligible for assistance if they were under the age of 18 at the time charges were laid. Adults with a cognitive impairment are also eligible.

Referrals

You can be referred to the Intermediary program:

  • at some Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation team (SOCIT) sites
  • in all jurisdictions of the courts in Melbourne CBD, Geelong, Bendigo and Warrnambool
  • by Victoria Police, Police Prosecutions or the Office of Public Prosecutions.

New location

The Intermediary Program has moved into a new premises in the legal precinct of Melbourne’s CBD. The program will share this space with the Child and Youth Witness Service (External link)

When designing the new premises, we consulted with community groups to help us create somewhere inclusive, accessible and culturally safe.

This was to ensure that the design represented the needs and preferences of the broad range of people using the space. Consideration was given to how the design of the new facility could support an improved experience for witnesses, staff and visitors.

Program history

The Intermediary Program was established as a pilot in 2018. The introduction of an intermediary scheme was recommended by:

The purpose of the intermediary scheme is to make the criminal justice system more accessible. The program was declared ongoing in 2021.

Part 8.2A of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (External link) outlines the scheme regarding intermediaries.

Careers

DJCS delivers high quality services to Victorians and supports a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.

The Intermediary Program employs a diverse range of professionals across a range of roles. Working for the program means being part of a passionate and supportive team with a strong focus on:

  • supervision
  • professional development
  • reflective work practices.

The department values an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and strongly encourages applications from:

  • Aboriginal people
  • people with disability
  • people from the LGBTIQ community
  • people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

To find out more about working at DJCS, and to see current vacancies, visit the Careers Victoria website (External link).

Contact

Email

IntermediaryProgram@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)

Phone

1300 219 195
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm