In 2000, Women's Legal Aid received funding from the Department of Families to provide court assistance to women applying for domestic violence orders in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. The Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service commenced in April 2001.
In 2004, as a result of the expansion of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 1989, funding was provided by the Department of Communities to cater for the non-spousal categories in the legislation.
The WDVCAS is free and confidential and helps clients by:
- explaining the process of applying for domestic violence protection orders
- explaining court processes and protocols
- assisting women to complete applications for protection order
- providing court support and assistance before, during and after matters are heard, in all issues related to the protection order application, including urgent applications
- explaining the process and assisting women to apply to vary/revoke a protection order
- providing crisis intervention counselling on matters related to domestic violence
- discussing with women their needs and the options available to them
- explaining and assisting women to report breaches of existing domestic violence orders to police
- providing referrals to any needed services, eg counselling, housing services, refuge accommodation, Centrelink services, children's services, etc
- providing referrals for legal advice and representation on domestic violence and related legal issues such as family law, immigration, tenancy, care and protection, etc
- providing referrals to the police prosecutor for assistance in the court process
- providing referrals to court staff when relevant.
Other functions of the court assistance workers include advocacy, community education and maintaining a support network for women coming into contact with the service.