Who We Are
Court Network is a frontline community organisation that enables court users to better understand and navigate the court system in Victoria and Queensland.
Our Belief
We believe that access to justice starts with every court user being valued and heard.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to provide the community with volunteers who stand beside, empower and instill confidence in all court users.
Our Story
The idea for Court Network was first conceived by our founder, Carmel Benjamin AM, in 1977 as a volunteer-run organisation to stand beside, empower, and instil confidence in all court users. Carmel identified a critical gap in services when she was working as an Honorary Probation Officer at the Children’s Court. She saw first-hand the challenges and complexities people face coming to court.
“The idea first came when I was working with a young family. The father had attended the Supreme Court and had been sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, and the mother had to attend the County Court on a related but different matter. She was by herself and completely alone. There was no one there to support her or explain things to her.” – Carmel Benjamin AM
By June 1980, Court Network – which was then known as the Victorian Court Information and Welfare Network Inc. – first launched at Prahran Magistrates’ Court. That year, 15 volunteers graduated ready to provide non-judgemental, empathetic support to anyone visiting the courts.
Since then, Court Network has expanded to cover 29 courts in Victoria, six courts in Queensland, and one court in New South Wales, with over 300 volunteers. We also provide a Telephone Service in Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales to ensure all court users have access to comprehensive support before, during, and after their proceedings.
“Today, Court Network continues to strengthen and extend its services to meet people where they are. With an increasing footprint across states and flexible support options, including in-person and telephone services, we are reaching more court users than ever before. At every step, our volunteers are there making meaningful change and ensuring nobody has to navigate this process alone.” – Kate Cahill, Executive Director
Our Founder
Carmel Benjamin AM was born in London in 1932 and moved to Australia with her family when she was a child. Following marriage and motherhood, Carmel became increasingly concerned about the welfare of children and embarked on a career within the justice system. Graduating with a degree in Welfare Studies from Chisholm Institute and undertaking the role of Honorary Probation Officer in the Children’s Court, Carmel began to notice a lack of support and services for court users.
It was in 1977 that the foundations of Court Network began to take shape – an innovative, non-governmental service providing vital court support and information to all court users.
Officially launching three years later, her pioneering initiative was the first of its kind in Australia and became an international model for court support services, assisting victims, the accused, and their families through each stage of the legal process.
Carmel continued to help shape the Australian justice system outside of Court Network. She was appointed to the Prison Advisory Council of Victoria in 1974 and later served on the Correctional Services Council of Victoria. Her leadership within the prison system continued as she became a long-serving council member and Chairperson of the Victorian Women’s Prison Council, later known as the Fairlea Women’s Prison Council. In 2003, Carmel was appointed to the Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee.
Carmel’s dedication to justice and community welfare has been widely recognised. In 1988, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her services, and in 1993, she received the A.R. Whatmore Award from the Victorian Association for the Care Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) for her outstanding work in corrections. Her contributions to women’s rights and social advocacy were further acknowledged in 2001 when she was honoured with a Vida Goldstein Award from the Women’s Electoral Lobby for her exceptional service to women and community welfare.
Carmel’s legacy is one of compassion, innovation, and commitment to improving the lives of those involved in the criminal justice system.
“When you approach individuals without knowing why they are in court you acknowledge their humanity with a rare openness and kindness, and when you share with them the information that they need, and support them with concern, you dignify their presence while making their experience more understandable. By doing this you act as the link between the court and the community that Court Network was designed to be.”