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Specialist family violence courts

MCV has a number of specialist family violence courts that provide services specialising in family violence matters. 

Specialist family violence courts

Specialist family violence courts are located at the Ballarat, Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Frankston, Geelong, Heidelberg, Latrobe Valley, Melbourne, Moorabbin, Ringwood, Shepparton and Sunshine Magistrates' courts, and:

  • provide easy access to the court
  • promote the safety of people affected by violence
  • increase the accountability of people who have used violence against family members, encouraging them to change behaviour, and
  • increase the protection of children exposed to family violence.

Each specialist family violence court has:

  • magistrates who are trained in hearing family violence matters
  • magistrates who can make counselling orders
  • a trained in family violence who coordinates all services and works to ensure matters are heard in a timely manner
  • family violence and practitioners who are specially trained to provide support. They can also provide referrals to community support agencies to ensure people have the support they need outside of court, and
  • police prosecutors, outreach workers and lawyers with family violence training. 

Specialist family violence courts can hear intervention order cases at the same time as other matters, including:

  • applications and pleas in criminal cases
  • family law parenting order matters 
  • victims of crime applications related to family violence.
Last updated on 03 Mar 2023
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