On this page

  • Referrals

  • Police interviews

  • Referrals prior to a court hearing

  • Making a referral

  • Out of scope referrals

Referrals

Referrals to the Intermediary Program can be made by:

  • police officers
  • legal practitioners
  • the courts.

Police interviews

Intermediaries can assist eligible witnesses at the following Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) sites:

  • Bayside / Moorabbin
  • Bendigo
  • Box Hill
  • Fawkner
  • Frankston
  • Geelong
  • Melbourne
  • Knox
  • Warrnambool.

Referrals should be submitted with a minimum 24-hours notice so that the Intermediary Matching Service can allocate the most suitable intermediary. All attempts will be made to accommodate urgent referrals.

The matching service will assign an intermediary whose skills and experience best meet the specific needs of the witness.

Please note: intermediaries are not able to assist at disclosure interviews.

Referrals prior to a court hearing

Intermediaries can assist eligible witnesses in matters heard in the following gazetted courts:

  • Melbourne CBD
  • Geelong
  • Bendigo
  • Warrnambool.

Intermediaries assist children and eligible adults in all court jurisdictions, including the:

  • Children’s Court
  • Magistrate’s Court
  • County Court
  • Supreme Court.

Referrals should be submitted a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the scheduled court dates. Please contact the program directly if court dates are within the 8-week period.

The matching service will allocate an intermediary who best suits the specific needs of the witness.

Making a referral

Referrers can contact the Intermediary Program via: 

The e-Referral portal links to the programs’ new Case Management System (CMS), creating a more streamlined process for referrers. All supporting documentation can be uploaded into the CMS. 

The Making a referral user guide provides a step-by-step process to access the portal and make a referral.  

  • Phone: 1300 219 195 

The service operates from Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Requests received for services outside of these operating hours can be considered and acceptance is at the discretion of the Program Manager.

General enquiry 

For general enquiries please email the program at IntermediaryProgram@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)

Author
Department of Justice and Community Safety
Date of Publication

Out of scope referrals

Assistance for children and eligible adults who are witnesses in a range of ‘out-of-scope’ matters (e.g. family violence), at court or for police interviews at a SOCIT site not listed above, will be assessed by the Program Manager on a case-by-case basis.

Please email a completed referral form to the program for consideration.

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Contact

Email

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

Phone

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