Victorian Budget confirms short‑term funding for Victims Legal Service

The Victorian State Budget has confirmed two years of funding for the Victims Legal Service, providing short‑term certainty for victim‑survivors seeking legal support.

The service offers free, specialist and independent legal assistance, including help to access financial assistance and protect medical and counselling records in sexual assault cases.

While the funding recognises the ongoing need for this support, it remains limited in duration and does not keep pace with rising costs and growing demand.

Women’s Legal Service Victoria CEO Claudia Fatone said this creates uncertainty for both the service and the communities relying on it.

"Harm does not operate on a two‑year cycle. And neither should the support victim‑survivors rely on to access financial assistance or protect their medical and counselling records in sexual assault cases."

The Budget also includes significant investment in policing and corrections, alongside new prevention efforts through the Violence Reduction Unit.

Efforts to reduce violence are needed and welcomed, but the overall approach remains focused on responding after harm occurs, rather than preventing it.

"If we want to reduce crime, particularly youth crime and family violence, we must look further upstream," Ms Fatone said. 

"Decades of research shows that crime increases where people are unsupported: where families are under strain, connection to culture and community are broken, housing is unstable, access to legal and other support services are fragmented, and incomes do not meet the cost of living. 

"We see every day how systems that intervene later can compound this harm rather than reduce it."

With a state election approaching, Women’s Legal is advocating for evidence‑based reforms to strengthen prevention and improve responses across interconnected systems.