Review of the Victims’ Charter Act

What is the Victims’ Charter? 

The Victims’ Charter is a law in Victoria with 17 principles guiding how justice agencies and victims’ services must treat people who have experienced crime.
In summary, these principles require agencies and services to:

• treat victims with courtesy, dignity and respect and be responsive to victims’ particular needs
• communicate with victims in a way that recognises their preferences and needs
• provide victims with information about services, entitlements and assistance
• provide victims with information about justice processes
• help victims participate in some justice processes
• help victims stay safe in court and protect victims’ personal information and property
• respond to complaints from victims who believe an agency has breached the Victims’ Charter.

You can watch a video about the Victims’ Charter here.

Why is the Victims’ Charter being reviewed?

The law requires the Commissioner to review the Victims’ Charter and report to Government by 7 September 2025.  This review is based on a recommendation from the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) in its 2016 report about the role of victims in the court process. You can read that report here.

What will the review cover? 

The review will examine how the Victims’ Charter is working and how it helps victims. The Commissioner will look at: 

• victims’ awareness and understanding of the Victims’ Charter
• victims’ views on the effectiveness of the Victims’ Charter
• the effectiveness of the Victims’ Charter in ensuring justice and victim service agencies respect victims’ entitlements
• the effectiveness of any reforms made to the Victims’ Charter since it was first introduced in 2006
• whether further reform to the Victims’ Charter for the benefit of victims is necessary, including:
  • whether victims should have new or different entitlements
  • what should happen if an agency breaches a principle or entitlement 

The full terms of reference can be found here.  

Victims’ Charter Review Consultation Paper 

The Commissioner has released a Consultation Paper. You can read the Consultation Paper here. 

The Consultation Paper sets out key issues for consideration as part of the Review and invites written submissions from victims of crime, justice agencies and victims’ services.

How can I be involved? 

There are several ways you can contribute to the Victims’ Charter Review:

1. Complete the Victims' Survey
   If you have experienced crime, share your journey through our dedicated survey for victims of crime. Information about the survey can be found here.
   

An Easy English version of the survey can be found here and information about the survey can be found here. 

2. Make a written submission to the Consultation Paper and email your written feedback to policy@vocc.vic.gov.au. 

The VOCC will not publish written submissions. You can read more about how your submission will be used in the Consultation Paper

3. Register to receive updates about the project or to be a part of consultation activities by emailing: policy@vocc.vic.gov.au

Timeline 

Contact 

For questions about the Review:
Email: policy@vocc.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0419 969 110

If you are a victim of crime and want to know more or need help to participate:
Email: engagement@vocc.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0439 483 393