Expressions of interest are now open to join the Victorian intermediary panel.

Apply to become an intermediary

Overview

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking expressions of interest to join the Victorian intermediary panel as a contractor.

Applications close Sunday 2 June 2024.

Intermediaries facilitate the effective communication of children, young people and adults with a cognitive impairment who are giving evidence in police interviews and in court proceedings relating to sexual offence and homicide matters. Intermediaries work with criminal justice and other stakeholders to obtain the best possible evidence from witnesses to improve justice outcomes.

Applicants must satisfy eligibility requirements, with qualifications and demonstrated experience in:

·       psychology

·       social work

·       speech pathology

·       occupational therapy.

Applications are encouraged from eligible professionals in metropolitan Melbourne and the regional areas of Bendigo, Geelong and Warrnambool.  

Intermediaries are engaged on a contract basis and work is allocated on an ‘as-needed’ basis. Due to the nature of the service, the role would best suit professionals who have flexibility in terms of their availability.   

Fees are paid on the basis of the activity or by the hourly rate of $194 (plus GST). Further information about the schedule of fees is set out below.

Eligible applicants will be invited to attend an interview and will be required to undertake intensive training and assessment over three days. This training will be led by the Intermediary Program. The above training and assessment activities will be provided free of charge to participants.

Successful applicants will undertake an induction program and further training.

The Intermediary Program also provides monthly group reflective practice sessions for intermediaries which are facilitated by Lead Intermediaries. The purpose is to provide a supportive space for intermediaries to reflect on cases, to share experiences and to develop their practice, in recognition of the challenges of working in the justice system and with victims of crime.

About the Victorian Intermediary Program

The Victorian Intermediary Program is available for children, young people and adults with a cognitive impairment who are the complainants in sexual offence matters, or a witness to a homicide.

Intermediaries assist victim and witness participation in:

·       taking visual and audio recorded evidence (VARE) interviews conducted by the Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT); and

·       giving evidence in court proceedings.

 The Intermediary Program currently operates in: 

·       Children’s, Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts in Melbourne CBD, Geelong, Bendigo and Warrnambool

·       nine of the 28 Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child-abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) locations: Box Hill, Fawkner, Frankston, Knox, Moorabbin, Geelong, Warrnambool, Melbourne and Bendigo.

Intermediaries are appointed to the Intermediary Panel by the Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The Secretary must be satisfied that the person is suitable for appointment as an intermediary.

The program includes a small number of ‘in-house’ intermediaries and a larger pool of intermediaries who are contractors. We are presently seeking expressions of interest for intermediaries to be engaged as contractors.

The role of an intermediary

The role of an intermediary is to:

·       assess the communication assistance needs of eligible witnesses and develop strategies to maximise effective communication 

·       provide advice to police on strategies to optimise communication with eligible witnesses when the witness participates in a Visual and Audio Recorded Evidence (VARE) interview

·       write clear, coherent and timely reports for the court with recommendations for how best communication can be achieved

·       provide the judiciary and legal practitioners advice on how to phrase questions to get the most accurate and coherent responses 

·       attend court to assist witnesses while they are giving evidence.

Intermediaries are impartial officers of the court. They are not expert witnesses, advocates or a support person.

Being an intermediary involves working closely with eligible witnesses and victims of crime and exposure to information that can be distressing and traumatic, including about alleged sexual offences and homicides. While the role is challenging it can be rewarding by improving the experience of victims in the criminal justice system.

The majority of intermediary work is undertaken during business hours, however, intermediaries are sometimes required after hours. Intermediaries may also be requested to work at short notice. While the program liaises with intermediaries as to their availability, it is highly desirable if applicants have flexibility to meet this varied demand.  

The program provides group reflective practice sessions as outlined above and continuing professional development training.

More information about the role of intermediaries in Victoria is set out in the Multijurisdictional Court Guide for the Intermediary Program.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for appointment applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

·       have a tertiary qualification in psychology, social work, speech pathology or occupational therapy and be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA)

·       have a tertiary qualification in social work and be a member (or eligible to be a member) of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Applicants must also demonstrate:

·       at least three years’ experience working with people with communication and/or developmental needs, including children, young people, people with a disability or cognitive impairment

·       experience working in a trauma-informed way

·       strong written communication skills

·       excellent interpersonal skills and emotional resilience.

Successful applicants will require:

·       a current Working with Children Check and a National Police Check

·       Public liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.

It is highly desirable that applicants also have experience engaging with people who are disproportionately impacted by crime and trauma – including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, people with disabilities, and/or people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

Fees and expenses

The schedule of fees for intermediaries engaged as contractors is as follows:

·       services provided at court: half day rate is $582 for up to 3 hours or the full day rate is $1164 for more than 3 hours

·       writing court reports: $776 per report

·       attendance at police stations for VAREs: $194 per hour (plus GST).

Travel to court venues is not usually reimbursed; travel to other locations (including police sites) is paid at the hourly equivalent of $194 per hour in 15 minute increments.

The program will also cover overnight accommodation expenses if required.

How to apply

To express your interest, please submit via email to [email protected] by Sunday 2 June 2024:

·       a completed application form. For a copy of the application form, please email [email protected]

·       a covering letter addressing required skills and experience (no more than 2 pages)

·       a current curriculum vitae or resume

·       evidence of relevant professional registration.

Contact us for further information

For more information, please email  [email protected]