LAWYERS, psychologists, social workers and community groups will come together on Thursday to brainstorm ways to improve compensation for victims of crime.
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Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre will host the event run by legal firm Arnold Dallas McPherson.
Organisations attending Thursday's forum will discuss the weaknesses and strengths of the legal system and make proposals for improvement to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal.
Lawyer Alithea Thompson said the courts were burdened and under-resourced and needed other services' support.
"The people who are coming to this forum have an acute awareness of what is happening in our society and they are seeing that victims' needs are not being met," Ms Thompson said.
"We hope that the forum will be a mouth piece for victims' experiences with our legal and social services.
"We’re all part of the one process and we all see different sides of a victim's trauma and their sense of injustice.
"In coming together we can look at the best way to reflect society’s concern for victims in aiding their recovery."
We hope the forum will be a mouth piece for victims' experiences.
- Alithea Thompson
Ms Thompson said victims of crime did not easily disclose to lawyers the full nature of their loss, whether physical, emotional, psychological or financial.
She said people on the front line - such as police and social workers - gathered information from victims which often remained unknown to lawyers.
"We need to work out what’s happening with the victim to be able to claim the correct things to aid in their recovery and to be able to figure out what loss that person has suffered."
Ms Thompson said if police, counsellors, social workers and others worked closely with lawyers, they would be a better outcome for the victim.
She said victims' experience of the legal system was often "daunting" and could even add to their trauma.
"They’re not in a position where they’re able to follow a legal process as well as someone who is emotionally healthy," she said.
Ms Thompson said the forum was ultimately about trying to improve services for victim's of crime to help them heal.
The Bendigo Victims of Crime Forum is open to the public on Thursday from 9am to 2pm at Bendigo Library, activity rooms 1 and 2.
For more information, call Loddon Campaspe CLC on 5444 4364.
