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01/06/2026

Last week in Senate Estimates, the impact of losing Court Network's family court support program was put to the Attorney-General's office.

Every day, Court Network volunteers support people facing some of the most overwhelming moments of their lives, navigating a family court system that is complex, intimidating, and often traumatic.

Without renewed funding, this program ends June 30.

That means no one to help a mother understand what's happening in her hearing. No one to sit with a father who doesn't know what to do next. No one to explain the process to grandparents fighting to see their grandchildren.

These people may not have legal representation. They aren’t aware of which services are available to help them. They have us – and right now, our future in Family Courts is uncertain.

If you believe everyone deserves support when facing the court system, we need you to act now.

1. Share this post
2. Donate now via our website
3. Write to the Federal Attorney-General

28/05/2026

Our Family Court Program, operating in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Dandenong, provides emotional support and court information to people facing complex and often deeply distressing matters. It also connects people to critical community and legal services that they may have otherwise not accessed. With funding set to end in June 2026, this service and the dedicated volunteers that sustain it are at risk.

“We should be celebrating our volunteers – not abandoning them. Without them, people experiencing domestic and family violence may be left to face court alone,” said Kate Cahill, Executive Director.

“Some of our people have been volunteering in the Family Court for 20 years and are relied upon by judges and court staff. They have stood beside and empowered court users in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable so this will be a huge loss for everyone.”

We are calling for urgent Government action to secure continued funding and protect this vital community service so vulnerable families aren’t left to face court alone. Please help us by advocating to the Federal Attorney-General and making a tax deductible donation via our website.

24/05/2026

To cap off a successful , our Brisbane Networkers were honoured and celebrated last week at the Supreme Court Library Queensland! Volunteers were recognised for their extraordinary contribution across the justice sector and wider community.

We heard from Olympian Rosie Malone who delivered an inspiring keynote address on resilience, teamwork and high performance, sharing reflections that resonated strongly with our volunteer community.

A special thank you also to our Patron, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Helen Bowskill, whose ongoing support of community-based justice initiatives plays a vital role in creating a more accessible and compassionate court system.

To our wonderful Brisbane Networkers: thank you for your dedication and for the high quality support you provide to court users every day. By standing beside and empowering people on their worst days, you help more Queenslanders access justice.

21/05/2026

This week we’re celebrating AND !

We proudly teamed-up with Volunteering Victoria and Victoria Law Foundation for a special brunch event at Ballarat Magistrates' Court, highlighting the unique and critical role our volunteers play in our justice system and community.

We warmly welcomed our dedicated, local Ballarat Networkers and court stakeholders to hear from Geoff Sharp, CEO at Volunteering Victoria, Lynne Haultain, Executive Director at Victorian Law Foundation, and our own Executive Director, Kate Cahill.

Going to court can be a stressful and intimidating experience. Having a member of the community standing beside you and empowering you to understand, navigate, and participate in your matters is invaluable.

Thank you to everyone who attended and thank you to Court Services Victoria Ballarat Magistrates’ Court for hosting us!

20/05/2026

Two of our wonderful volunteers were recently nominated for the Queensland Awards! Bernadette and Paul have been volunteering for Court Network for more than a decade. They sit respectively at Cairns and Brisbane Specialist Domestic and Family Violence reception desks to ensure that Queensland court users arrive safely, get checked-in, and know where to go for their matters. Bern and Paul have helped thousands of people navigate court on some of their worst days and we are so proud to have their contribution to the community recognised!

Thank you to Volunteering Queensland and congratulations to Bern, Paul and all the other nominees 👏

18/05/2026

🎉Congratulations and welcome to our newly graduated Networkers!

Volunteer Networkers provide trauma-informed and non-judgemental support, vital court information, and referrals to other community services for all court users.

We spent the celebration sharing stories, reflections, and most importantly – cake! Our volunteers complete a thorough and comprehensive training program, equipping them with the necessary confidence and skills essential to support vulnerable court users navigate their day in court.

We look forward to continuing the journey with our graduates, working together to support all court users improve their access to justice!

17/05/2026

Happy !

Today and everyday, we celebrate and champion our dedicated Networkers who come to court to provide free, non-judgemental, trauma-informed support. Without you, thousands of vulnerable Australians would be left to face court alone, impacting their ability to meaningfully engage in their matters and access .

The theme for 2026, ‘Your Year to Volunteer,’ encourages all of us to consider the personal and community-wide benefits of volunteering. So tell us in the comments, why do you volunteer?

11/05/2026

We were delighted to recently welcome Kentaro Taniguchi, a Court Clerk from Tokyo Summary Court to Court Network during his visit to Melbourne as part of a partnership with Melbourne Law School.

Kentaro has been undertaking research into Victorian Court systems and connected with one of our Networkers at VCAT, leading to a meaningful discussion about the unique role volunteers play across Australia’s courts and tribunals.

The concept of community volunteers supporting community members in court is not something that currently exists in Japan. We shared how Court Network volunteers help court users feel calmer, more informed, and empowered to participate in their matters.

Court Network is committed to continuous learning, collaboration and sharing best practice across jurisdictions and cultures. Opportunities like this strengthen our understanding of how courts can become more accessible and supportive for everyone.

Thank you, Kentaro, for taking the time to learn more about our work and the important contribution of our volunteers.

28/04/2026

Recently, Court Network presented to new Victoria Police Prosecutors in their final week of training! We took the opportunity to build relationships, connect, and discuss the supports our Networkers can provide to court users. We also explained how Police Prosecutors can refer people to Court Network for additional support and to ensure they are ready for their day in court.

The Victoria Police Prosecutor team shared their own experiences of the impact our Networkers have, and why our free, confidential and non-judgemental services are so important. Congratulations to all the graduating Police Prosecutors!

13/04/2026

Jane (not her real name) arrived in distress at the Brisbane Family Court. A security guard recognised her distress and contacted the Court Networker for support.

Tearful and highly anxious, Jane had been self-representing in FCFCOAs for two years and was the sole carer of a large family. Jane feared for her children’s safety, believing their father was abusing the youngest four children. She had little understanding of court processes or the difference between the duty lawyer’s advice and ongoing representation.

The Networker provided calm, consistent support and guided her on acquiring the necessary forms, helped her regulate her emotions, understand key information, and access free legal advice. When the judge amended the father’s contact to a fortnightly arrangement, Jane initially felt defeated, but the Networker helped her understand the ruling was, in context, a positive outcome. Used to facing court completely alone, Jane later asked Court Network to accompany her to all future hearings.

This story highlights our essential role in catching people who slip through the cracks and supporting vulnerable, unrepresented people to feel safe, heard, and informed.

Address

Court Network Inc, 555 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Telephone

+611800571239

Website

http://www.courtnetwork.com.au/

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