COURT SUPPORT
Our Domestic Violence Court Support is a free service for women experiencing domestic violence.
It is designed to help female survivors of domestic and family violence to access the justice system to protect themselves against further violence.
We aim to:
- assist women to access the court system applying for Domestic Violence Protection Orders.
- provide women with advocacy and information when they are applying for Domestic Violence Protection Orders.
- provide women with appropriate referrals so they can take action to deal with the consequences of domestic and family violence.
What will the court assistant worker do?
A court assistant will:
- talk to you about your Domestic Violence Protection Order and your options.
- where appropriate, ensure that the Domestic Violence Protection Order is tailored to meet your circumstances.
- go with you to court and assist you through the court process.
- refer you to services that can assist you: such as housing, Centrelink or counselling.
What happens at Mackay Magistrates Court?
- Applications for Domestic Violence Protection Orders are listed every Thursday at 8.30am at Mackay Magistrates Court.
- A court support worker is available at the courthouse each Thursday from 8.30am to provide assistance.
- Duty lawyers are available to provide advice to aggrieveds and respondents on DV Court Day.
- In the majority of the domestic violence matters, the Police Prosecutor can represent the victim.
- Brochures about support agencies and their location are available in the Registry Office.
How can you access court assistance?
- You can contact a domestic violence court assistant prior to going to court by phoning us on 07 4953 1788.
- Or you can ask a member of the court staff to direct you to a domestic violence court assistant at court on the day your matter is listed.
We assist at the Mackay, Moranbah and Sarina courthouses.