Victim Support Service and Child Witness Service
The Victim Support Service (VSS) and Child Witness Service (CWS) are committed to promoting the rights and addressing the needs of anyone who has suffered harm from crime.
The Victim Support Service provides :
- Confidential support to adult victims of crime including,
- Information on criminal justice processes
- Trauma debriefing and counselling
- Court preparation and companionship, and
- Advocacy and referrals to other service providers.
- Assistance when making an application for a Violence Restraining Order, and
- Information on the status of convicted offenders in WA through the Victim Notification Register.
The Child Witness Service
Provides support to all children and youth who need to talk in court or give evidence about what happened to them. This includes where the child or young person has been hurt themselves or where they have witnessed a crime against another person. In addition Practitioners provide:
- Information, advocacy, court preparation and companionship, and emotional support, and
- Referrals to other services if the child or young person needs counselling.
Victim Impact Statements
The preparation of Victim Impact Statements is part of these services as well. Victim Support Services and Child Witness Services practitioners also supply details about criminal injuries compensation to adults and children or youth who are required to appear in Court.
An outreach Victim Support Service and Child Witness Service is scheduled to coincide with the Magistrate's Circuit in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
Cost
Victim Support Services and Child Witness Services are provided to clients free of charge.
Referrals
Referrals to the Victim Support Service and Child Witness Service are generally made by the Police. The client, a family member or carer, can also ask the Victim Support Service and Child Witness Service directly for assistance.
Locations
Derby
No public transport available
Wheelchair access
Kununurra
No public transport available in Kununurra
Wheelchair access
Interpreters available on request
Karratha
No public transport available in Karratha
Wheelchair access
Interpreters available on request
Funding source: Department of the Attorney General.