Last week, a highly-skilled and dedicated team of Networkers graduated our intensive 12-week training program, ready to support Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia users in Sydney!
This represents Court Network’s first in-person presence in New South Wales, building on our established Telephone Service and expanding our reach within the Federal Circuit and Family Courts of Australia. Our newly-minted volunteer Networkers bring a range of skills and life experiences, including in human rights, domestic violence crisis support, social work, corrections, senior leadership and public service.
“We’re getting to know the duty solicitors, the men’s and women’s social workers, some barristers and interpreters, and of course the registry and security staff,” said one Networker.
Currently, Court Network provides services in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Melbourne, Dandenong and Brisbane. We also provide telephone support before, during and after court to Family Court Users in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.
Court Network is proud to have the support available to all FCFCOA court users and see the impact that the service is making on the ground.
“It’s great that the service model means we can support anyone using the court, including friends or family of the litigants, because it can be a really overwhelming experience for anyone,” the Networker shared.
“That might be supporting someone who is very anxious while waiting for a court matter to be heard, or helping direct people to the Intake Referral Officer to be connected with a social service.”
Our team is building strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders within the courts and other community services to ensure all court users have access to the best possible support.
“As well as everything we’ve learnt during training, we’re learning so much from the people we talk to at the court. For instance, an interpreter has been telling us about her experiences interpreting for court appearances at Sydney and Parramatta, and the Legal Aid and social service teams are telling us about the different kinds of services and programs available to people of diverse backgrounds.”