End of year message from the Victims of Crime Commissioner
24 December 2025
As 2025 rapidly comes to an end, I have been reflecting on what I have heard this year from victims of crime and how my Office and I have used what we have learned to strive for an improved justice system for victim survivors.
Crime has dominated the headlines recently. Many of those headlines have focussed on an increase in crime in Victoria. The media reports collectively demonstrate the diversity of the victim experience – no one story is the same, nor is the impact of the crime, but they are all important and better supporting victims must be the highest priority for the justice system.
For my Office and me, our focus will always be on the experience and the needs of victims of crime. No Victorian should be a victim of crime. I have been privileged to meet with many victims of crime in the past 12 months – every one of the hundreds of conversations I have had has, in some way, shaped the work that I do, whether we are working with victims and agencies to uphold the rights in the Victims’ Charter, advocating to government to advance the needs of victims in our justice system, or ensuring that the voices of victims of crime are embedded in our justice system.
As Commissioner I represent the concerns of victims’ survivors of crime to government and other decision-makers. This year I met with many decision makers – Ministers, senior government officials, Chief members of Victoria’s judiciary, the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, the Chief prosecutors’ legal aid and defence lawyers and community sector Chief Executives whose agencies support domestic violence prevention and response.
As part of raising awareness of victims’ rights in the justice system, this year I spoke at Victorian universities to legal students who are future leaders of our justice system. I also addressed forums across Victoria to promote the importance of victims’ rights and entitlements that are enshrined in legislation.
Victims Charter
A significant achievement in the past 12 months was my review of the Victims’ Charter.
The Victims’ Charter sets out 17 principles relevant to government agencies and victim support services. At the heart of these principles is recognition that it is a benefit to all in the justice system, and not a cost, for victim survivors of crime to be treated with courtesy, respect and dignity, and to have their needs responded to by all in the justice system.
My review of the Victims’ Charter involved me hearing from some 150 victims of crime. Reflecting on these conversations, I found that victims’ rights and needs are often unknown or forgotten in the justice process; that the current protections for victims are inadequate and that justice policy is not informed by lived experience.
I am proud of the report that I submitted to government in September this year, which was tabled in Parliament in October. My small office was deeply committed to this important review, as the case for change is clear. The report includes 25 recommendations that provides government with a blueprint to transform the lives of victims of crime.
Importantly, collectively those 25 recommendations will give a much-needed voice to victims.
The Government is yet to respond to the report, which I will continue to discuss with them in 2026.
Lived Experience
As a strong advocate of a victim-centred approach to law, policy and practice I was delighted to continue to develop a lived experience model which is a critical input to the work my office undertakes. As such I worked intensively with a lived experience advisory group (the LEAG) throughout the year. My Office and I also engaged with a broader lived experience experts network – (the LEEN). Six lived experience advocates are active members of the LEAG, and 70 victim survivors were active members of the LEEN.
The voices of lived experience give me a unique and invaluable perspective on what it means to be a victim survivor, the barriers and inequities faced, and the ways we can work to improve the experience and participation of victim survivors in the justice system.
I am very grateful for the time, important insights and strategic advice that the LEAG and LEEN provided in 2025 to my work.
Complaints and Compliance
Two critical functions of my office are investigating complaints from victim survivors that their Victims’ Charter rights have been breached, and monitoring how well justice agencies uphold these rights.
The past 18 months have seen a significant increase in enquiries, complaints and investigations about victims’ rights being breached, with the numbers in 2025-26 likely to be more than double those in 2023-4.
That said, these are still a tiny fraction of the numbers of victims of crime.
As Victims’ Charter Review report clearly states, there are currently some significant barriers to victim survivors bringing their complaints to me. In particular: the low awareness among victim survivors about the Charter and the complaints processes under it; and a requirement that I can only accept complaints if they are first made to the agency the victim is complaining about. My report recommends measure to remove both of these barriers.
My report also includes recommendations to improve the accessibility of the Charter, its protections for victim survivors and the extent to which I can hold agencies to account for not complying with the Charter. Examples including extending the Charter to apply to the Courts and judicial officers, and empowering me to issue compliance notices to agencies who do not act upon my recommendations. I look forward very much to the Government’s response to my report.
Looking ahead
As I look to 2026, I will continue to reflect on what I heard this year from victims of crime. I will continue to have conversations to ensure that the work we do and what we recommend to government and justice agencies is firmly grounded in the experiences of victim survivors. I will also focus on driving better compliance with the Charter, and hearing from an increased number of victims about their experiences.
I continue to hear from too many victims of crime that participating in the justice system causes them harm, sometimes more harm than the crime itself.
In 2026 my goal will be to ensure that all victims of crime feel empowered and supported throughout their journey in the justice system.
I wish everyone a happy and safe festive season. I wish to acknowledge that this holiday period can be a difficult time for many victim survivors. I would particularly like to acknowledge all those affected by the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, as well as the Jewish community and their families and friends.
Elizabeth Langdon