Annual Report 2023-24

The department’s 2023-24 Annual Report highlights the department’s many achievements and progress towards our vision.

Supporting our communities through emergencies

Victoria has experienced severe fires, storms and floods during 2023–24. During these extreme weather events, the State Control Centre provided a continuous service to the Victorian community, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Some Victorian communities experienced several major weather events, requiring significant coordination and recovery efforts. Working collaboratively with government, councils and community groups, Emergency Recovery Victoria coordinated state relief and recovery efforts, which included temporary accommodation, recovery support, state coordinated clean-up programs, the activation of Regional Recovery Hubs and deployment of Community Recovery Officers.

In the year to 30 June 2024, more than 4,300 households received support through the Flood Recovery Support Program, and over 13,000 calls for information and referrals were made to our 1800 Emergency Recovery Hotline. As part of this initiative, over 2,000 people received assistance to find suitable emergency or temporary accommodation. With support, 35 local councils established physical Recovery Hubs to provide community outreach.

Alongside these vital recovery efforts, we have continued to uplift the capability and capacity of Victoria’s emergency services organisations to respond to emergency events. This has been achieved by strengthening entity governance arrangements across the emergency management sector.

Ensuring a culturally safe, fair and accessible justice system for Aboriginal people

The Youth Voice Model will amplify the voices of Aboriginal children and young people in the design and delivery of youth justice services. Proposed by the Koorie Youth Council, the model includes a custodial program and online resource hub for young Aboriginal people.

The Aboriginal Healing Unit at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre began operations in mid-2023. The centre is a culturally safe and appropriate space for Aboriginal women to live and participate in tailored, community-led and trauma-informed programs.

The transition to a new model for custodial primary health care services is underway, with a dedicated team providing culturally informed and coordinated health care for Aboriginal men and women. Aboriginal health checks are offered within 29 business days of arrival at a correctional facility, using a culturally appropriate assessment tool. More than 1000 Aboriginal health checks were completed between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.

Yoorrook Justice Commission

The department continued to genuinely engage with the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s work and the Victorian Treaty process. This work supports and builds on the vital progress towards Aboriginal self determination that Truth and Treaty offer.

The department provided input to the Victorian Government Response to the Yoorrook for Justice report, which was submitted to the Yoorrook Justice Commission on 3 April 2024. The response reiterated that the government remains committed to progressing a range of reforms in the criminal justice system to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people in Victoria.

Ensuring a safe Victoria

The Distracted Driver and Seatbelt Program started enforcing hand mobile device and seatbelt related offences on 1 July 2023, as part of Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy Action Plan 1 2021–23. Eight Distracted Driver and Seatbelt Road Safety Camera trailers are currently used for enforcement, enabling over 5,500 hours of roadside enforcement to be carried out each month, across more than 200 locations throughout Victoria.

Recognising and responding to the needs of victims of crime

The department is now in the final stages of implementing Victoria’s new Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme. The foundational scheme will acquit, in whole or part, 84 of the recommendations made by the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s review of the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal and the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996.

Efficient, safe and effective adult corrections and youth justice services

In August 2023, operations commenced at our new 140-room youth justice facility at Cherry Creek, which provides purpose-built accommodation for 15–18-yearold males on long-term remand and sentences. Cherry Creek features 120 rooms across 4 ‘neighbourhoods’, complemented by an additional 20 specialist rooms including 2 mental health units; an intensive intervention unit for young people who pose a high risk of harm in custody; and a dedicated unit for young people detained on Preventative Detention Orders.

Operations at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct ended on 31 December 2023. All young people 4 Department of Justice and Community Safety successfully transferred to Parkville and Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precincts by the end of 2023. The closure of Malmsbury is linked to a successful strategy to divert children and young people away from the Youth Justice custodial system.

In October 2023, the new 26-bed Lonarch Unit at Langi Kal Kal opened, providing support and services for elderly people in custody with suitable beds, space for mobility aids, a wheelchair lift and ramp access.

Enhanced justice health services

From 1 July 2023, the department transitioned the provision of custodial primary health services to new providers in all public prisons. GEO Healthcare is now delivering primary healthcare services in men’s public prisons, and Western Health and Dhelkaya Health are delivering primary health services at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and Tarrengower Prison respectively. Under the new model and in recognition of the complex health needs of women in our care, women in prison now have access to a wider, flexible network of community and specialist physical and mental health supports.

The new primary health model for all public prisons aligns with a strengthened quality framework that embeds Aboriginal cultural safety standards in service delivery.

Reforms to support a fairer justice system

The Bail Amendment Act 2023 commenced on 25 March 2024, reforming Victoria’s bail laws to make them fairer and address the disproportionate impact that previous bail laws had on Aboriginal people. The Act addresses key issues raised by the coronial inquest into the passing of Veronica Nelson and the findings of the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

A review of the Spent Convictions Act 2021 identified opportunities to improve public awareness and understanding of the Act so that more community members can benefit from the scheme. In 2024, the department delivered activities to raise awareness of the scheme, with a high priority being promotion to Aboriginal communities.

The Crimes Amendment (Non-fatal Strangulation) Act 2023, due to commence on 13 October 2024, creates 2 new indictable offences of non-fatal strangulation against a family member, within the Crimes Act 1958. These offences aim to better protect victim-survivors and to hold to account perpetrators who use strangulation to exert power and control over their family member.

Improving access and reducing harm

Garragarrak, the new Child and Youth Witness Service and Intermediary Program premises launched in August 2023. Garragarrak provides specialist support for children and young people who are witnesses in criminal matters. The Intermediary Program provides communication assistance for children and young people who have a cognitive impairment and who need to give evidence in sexual offence and homicide matters.

The facility provides a trauma-informed, child and family friendly space that includes 8 remote witness rooms, video evidence viewing rooms, assessment rooms and legal conference rooms. The interior was designed to be safe and comfortable for children and young people; and inclusive, inviting and culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

From 1 July 2023, a new Legal Services Panel commenced, which will ensure stronger outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged Victorians. 60 per cent of all pro bono work will be delivered in collaboration with Victorian Community Legal Centres.

The Gambling Legislation Amendment Act 2023, which commences August 2024, introduces mandated closure periods for all gaming machine areas in venues except the casino between 4 am and 10 am every day.

The department supported the implementation of all recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence. All recommendations have either commenced or have been legislated and are awaiting commencement.

These are just some of the department’s achievements this year, while maintaining our strong focus on service delivery and improvement in a challenging fiscal environment. 

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