Where to go and who to contact for support with justice and disability needs in Victoria.
Support directories
Directory of local services for crisis support needs including housing, food, physical and mental health, emergency funds, counselling, legal support, drug and alcohol issues, and education and work.
Searchable directory of NDIS disability service providers, including support for daily living and access, therapy and assessment, recreation and leisure, learning and jobs, planning advocacy and navigation, and assistive technology and other solutions.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
Aboriginal Community Controlled Services provide culturally safe services to Aboriginal people in Victoria.
These services have expert knowledge of the service providers available to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.
Hubs of services available to Aboriginal people, including:
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (VACCHO) is the peak body and has a list of service providers on their website.
(03) 9510 6288
9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4pm on Fridays.
Drug and alcohol services are also provided through Community health and mental health services (see above).
Local Aboriginal Health Services and Co-operatives often provide regional or local housing services. To find out whether the local Health Service provides housing services, use the VACCHO website to find the local Health Service.
(03) 9403 2100
8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
1800 064 865
24-hour custody notification and pre-interview advice
Reception and legal service: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Freecall 1800 105 303
03 5188 0003
Court dates and assistance
Each jurisdiction has its own way you can search for court listing dates. Most lists are available for public access.
Services offered
Disability rights advocates
(03) 9657 1600
Autism Information Advisor Service 1300 308 699
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Freecall 1800 808 126
(03) 9474 0077
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Freecall 1800 808 126
(03) 9474 0077
National Relay Service options: 1800 808 126
Complaints 1800 677 342
TTY 1300 726 563
National Relay Service: 1800 677 342
8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
03 9416 4003
NDIS hotline 1800 655 570
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Disability support services
1300 390 709
ForensicDisability.Access@dhhs.vic.gov.au
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Services offered
For more information, see Access support services.
See: CISP referral form.
Check availability and contact numbers on the CISP website.
Contact the court you are required to attend for the contact number of your local Youth Justice office.
For information on accessing disability support services see accessing the NDIS.
See also:
Drug and alcohol support services
1800 888 236
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If you need help with a drug or alcohol issue you can also speak with your GP.
Family violence, victim and witness services
1800 RESPECT (Australia) 1800 737 732
Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491
Sexual Assault Crisis Line (Victoria) 1800 806 292
Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817
Refer to the website to find a centre close to you.
Freecall 1800 819 817
Text 0427 767 891
8am to 11pm, every day
1300 790 540
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Intermediaries are skilled communication specialists who assist vulnerable witnesses to give evidence. Intermediaries are neutral and are officers of the court.
There is currently a pilot program in Victoria that allows a court to order an intermediary in certain circumstances.
Both the prosecution and the defence can apply for an intermediary to be appointed.
If you think that you might be eligible for an intermediary, speak to the prosecutor or police officer who is handling your case.
Freecall 1800 641 927
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Housing providers
Victorian Statewide Homelessness Line 1800 825 955 – call to be connected to a housing worker who can help you find available accommodation in your local area
Ask Izzy - find housing and accommodation near you
(03) 8388 1222
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
1300 390 709
ForensicDisability.Access@dhhs.vic.gov.au
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
(03) 9288 9647
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Referrals to the JHSP are made through CISP (see Access support services) or ARC (see Specialist courts) referrals.
If you have disability-specific housing needs, an NDIS package may be able to provide housing supports in some circumstances.
Find out how to Access the NDIS.
Interpreting and communication services
131 450
TTY: call 133 677
Speak and listen: call 1300 555 727
Give the phone number of the court you need to contact.
Legal services
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) provides a duty lawyer service for people who do not have a lawyer when they arrive at court.
Homeless Law 1800 606 313 or the Tenants Union 9416 2577 – call if you or your client:
1300 792 387
(03) 9269 0234
8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
For more information see Get legal advice or visit the VLA website.
1300 792 387
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Services offered
Financial means tests and residential area limitations may apply depending on the referral Community Legal Centre
(03) 9607 9311
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Freecall for legal advice: 1800 014 111
1pm to 3pm, Monday to Friday
All other calls: (03) 5227 3338
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
TTY users call: 133 677 Ask for (03) 5227 3338
Legal Advice (night service) (03) 9629 4422 or 1800 555 887
6pm to 8pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Freecall: 1800 555 887
Phone: (03) 9629 4422
9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Friday
Services offered:
1800 606 313
9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Services offered
Legal matters that Homeless Law can assist with include
(03) 9448 8930
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
1800 064 865
24-hour custody notification and pre-interview advice
Reception and legal service: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Services offered
(03) 9113 9500
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Mental health support services
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Lifeline 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467
A number of organisations have funding to provide community-based psychosocial support to people in the community experiencing mental ill-health.
Funding for community mental health services is distributed regionally. The Ask Izzy directory can connect you with nearby mental health services, or you can speak with your GP or designated Mental Health Service.
1300 874 243
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If you are having a mental health emergency, you can go to your local Emergency Department or contact your designated Mental Health Service to be connected to a psychiatrist.
Be aware that the Mental Health Act 2014 gives psychiatrists the power to make decisions about treatment.
Even if a psychiatrist has decided that you need to be hospitalised, you still have legal rights. This self-help tool developed by the Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) Service helps you learn your rights and find solutions to some of the most common issues in the mental health system.
For questions about the Mental Health Act 2014 or to know the legal rights of compulsory patients contact:
If you are looking for a psychologist, you should speak to your GP for a referral and a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP).
MHCPs are covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule and give access to bulk-billed psychological services.
NDIS assistance
If you are supporting someone with a diagnosed disability who is:
Contact the following services for assistance:
See NDIS complex support needs and crises for more information about services that can assist with complex issues.
The NDIS can be complex. There are different people who can help depending on what type of issue you are experiencing.
To start an application to access the NDIS, first look at the Applying to Access the NDIS guide.
If you have questions about your NDIS plan contact your Local Area Coordinator. The Local Area Coordinator coordinates NDIS services in your area.
See Access an existing NDIS plan if you want to find out about someone's plan or NDIA information sharing processes.
If you have an internal review of an NDIA decision coming up, or an appeal at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) you should get assistance from a lawyer or disability advocate. You can do this by contacting one of the agencies who are funded through the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP).
The Department of Social Services website has a list of NDAP service providers.
You could also consider requesting help from legal services.
Freecall 1800 035 544
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
For information on the programs that have been funded by DFFH to support the transition to the NDIS in Victoria - refer to the NDIS transition support and resources webpage.
NDIS complex support needs and crises
If you are supporting someone with personal and situational factors that make it harder for them to engage with the NDIS, including criminal justice involvement, they may be eligible for the NDIA Complex Support Needs Pathway and other services.
NDIA Complex Support Needs Pathway
Referrals to the Complex Support Needs Pathway come internally from the NDIA. To find out more:
Services offered
The program assists NDIS service providers, including mainstream and community services, to support people with complex support needs.
ecsnp@cohealth.org.au
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
The DFFH Intensive Support Team (IST) provides time-limited support to people with disability experiencing significant and critical issues with their transition to the NDIS. This includes criminal justice involvement. Their role supports the Victorian Government transition disability services onto the NDIS.
Referrals to the IST can be made by the DFFH NDIS Transition Division, who consider:
To find out more, contact the NDIS Transition Branch:
Services offered
If you support someone in custody and are having difficulties navigating the difference between NDIS and justice system supports, you should first contact the person responsible for disability services at the correctional facility, sometimes called the ‘disability portfolio holder’. Each correctional facility has a different designated position and uses different terminology. For example, if you support a young person with disability, Youth Justice has a Senior Disability Advisor.
Specialist courts
ARC may be available to people diagnosed with one or more of the following:
ARC is available at the following Magistrates' Courts:
To apply for a referral to an ARC, complete the ARC referral form and contact the relevant ARC coordinator.
Read Access specialist courts for more ARC information and eligibility criteria.
Accused people are eligible for the Drug Court if they are:
A lawyer can seek a Drug Court screening hearing for their client by contacting the Drug Court registries at either:
Read Access specialist courts for more Drug Court information and eligibility criteria.
Koori Court is available at these Magistrates’ Court locations:
The Children’s Koori Court is also available at these locations:
To apply for the Koori Court, a legal representative must complete a Koori Court certificate of readiness.
To access the County Koori Court contact the County Koori Court coordinator.
Read Access specialist courts for more Koori Court information and eligibility criteria.
(03) 9948 8777
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Read Access specialist courts for more NJC information and eligibility criteria.
Specialist reports
(03) 8388 1222
(03) 9657 1600
Autism Information Advisor Service: 1300 308 699
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Freecall 1800 333 497
(03) 8662 3300
8.45am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday
(03) 9231 1988
Supporting Justice © Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT University, 2019
Questions or feedback: contact@supportingjustice.net
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners on whose land we meet, share and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all nations of this land.