Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Projects funded support criminal justice activities, crime prevention and assistance to victims of crime.
Several local initiatives aimed at increasing Canberrans’ access to justice have received funding through the Confiscated Assets Trust (CAT).
CAT funding ensures proceeds of crime are used to address the effects of crime on the community.
The funding supports a range of initiatives designed to:
- empower victims
- strengthen community connections
- ensure a fairer legal process for the community.
The projects funded support criminal justice activities, crime prevention and assistance to victims of crime.
They each contribute to ensuring Canberrans have an equal opportunity to navigate the legal system.
Legal Aid ACT is one organisation to receive funding.
It will use its $369,000 to employ client liaison officers to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and cultural and linguistically diverse Canberrans.
“Legal Aid ACT is strongly committed to the delivery of services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities,” Legal Aid ACT Chief Executive Officer Dr John Boersig PSM said.
“This will allow us to better provide legal assistance by engaging liaison officers from these communities.”
Initiatives to receive CAT funding include:
Women’s Legal Centre: $30,000
Funds will support the centre to develop and distribute a Sexual Assault Legal Service handbook.
This will provide essential information and resources to sexual assault survivors navigating the criminal justice system.
Expansion of the Witness Assistance Scheme: $404,346
Funds will be used to immediately expand the Witness Assistance Scheme within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
This will provide essential support and guidance to witnesses and complainants throughout the criminal justice process.
Extension of Embedded Prosecutor Initiative: $107,000
The funds will extend the placement of a senior prosecutor within the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team (SACAT) in ACT Policing.
This will help to provide high-quality, pre-charge advice and support for the implementation of the new Threshold to Charge policy.
Family counselling pilot: $15,000
A family counselling pilot will be established at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
A family counsellor at the Centre will provide personalised support to detainees. This will help enhance their communication skills, build resilience and provide strategies to build relationships and resolve conflict.
Restorative Justice: $509,804
CAT funding will be used to improve community access to restorative justice.
This funding will allow for extra resources to reduce restorative justice waiting times.
It will also assist continued progress to enhance the Restorative Justice Scheme and increase accessibility for victim-survivors of sexual violence.
Legal Aid ACT: $369,000
Legal Aid ACT will employ three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse client liaison officers.
These officers will give targeted support to vulnerable members of the community and strengthen Legal Aid’s capacity.
If you need help, please contact Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377.
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