Understanding Family Violence Court Proceedings: The Impact of Family Violence on the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria

Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of family violence-related matters initiated in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. This increase has placed unprecedented pressure on the court and associated personnel such as court staff, duty lawyers and service providers. In order to understand the impact of family violence on the court, the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria has collaborated with the Royal Commission into Family Violence (‘the Commission’) in research to provide a better understanding of the family violence workload of the Magistrates’ Court. In particular, the Commission’s research aims to determine if there is sufficient capacity for dealing with cases properly, both in terms of dedicating adequate time and attention to each matter, and in providing a considered and appropriate outcome.