Court Advocacy Program

Our Court support workers provide ongoing practical support throughout the Domestic Violence Order (DVO) application process. Workers assist clients to fill in application paperwork, provide procedural advice and safety planning, and advocate for clients in Court and with other involved services or authorities.

The service also links clients up with other supports such as legal advice, legal representation, public advocacy and emergency childcare. Additionally CAP provides support with Defended Hearings should clients be required to give evidence in relation to a criminal matter. In such cases we attend the hearings with our clients when they give evidence and liaise with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions where needed.

The Court Advocacy Program operates from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and is based in the Magistrates’ Court in the City. The program works closely with the Legal Aid ACT Domestic Violence and Protection Orders unit and liaises with Magistrates’ Court Registry staff in order to best assist our clients.

Please contact us should you wish to discuss your options further. You can contact us anonymously. We do not make any sound recordings of our conversations, but we do record that we spoke to you. This record can be made anonymously. If you are unsure, please speak to our crisis workers at the commencement of the call.