13 January 2012

New support program in the works for crime victims

| Consumer
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Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey has awarded a contract to Communities@Work, for a volunteer program that is meant to practically assist victims of crime around the ACT.

Mr Hinchey said the group were an important part of the Canberra community having previously delivered various other well known and respectable programs.

“Communities@Work have strong organisational support services, including a registered training organisation, Nuskills, which was awarded Small Registered Training Organisation of the Year in 2011.”

“They have over 200 volunteers who work alongside staff in a variety of programs. I am confident that they have the capacity and expertise to deliver a high quality volunteer program and I look forward to working with them to develop services to assist victims of crime.”

The unnamed program will be focussing on aiding victims during court proceedings.

“Many victims of crime find court processes particularly difficult. Volunteers will work alongside Victim Support ACT case workers to ensure that clients receive coordinated support, not only at court, but leading up to major court events, such as the giving of evidence, the delivery of victim impact statements, sentencing hearings and appeal processes,”

The service is currently being drafted and is expected to begin around May.

Have you ever had to use a crime support program? How helpful was it?

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legal_chick8612:23 pm 17 Jan 12

As a victim of a crime myself, i would like to put some input into this program, from a point of view of someone who has experienced the court process and also post court… which i believe is when people need support, particularly if the case didnt go the way they expected.

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