Victims Legal Service (VLS)
ECLC welcomes the launch of the Victims Legal Service (VLS) Impact Report, marking three years of specialist, trauma-informed legal support for victim-survivors across Victoria.
Since commencing in March 2023, the VLS – Victoria’s first dedicated statewide legal service for victims of crime has delivered 12,097 services to victim-survivors, including responding to 10,513 enquiries through its specialist Helpline and providing ongoing legal casework to more than 2,000 individuals.
ECLC is proud to be one of seven local Community Legal Centre partners in the VLS network, delivering place-based, intensive legal assistance to victim-survivors in Melbourne’s east, including Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and the Yarra Ranges.
The report reveals the critical impact of the service:
✅ A snapshot of just 25 finalised matters shows the VLS helped secure over $380,000 in financial assistance for victim-survivors – funding essential needs like housing, safety measures, counselling, and medical care.
✅ 44% of clients reported having a disability; 35% reported mental health issues; 24% had experienced or were at risk of family violence; and 23% lived in regional, rural or remote areas.
✅ Demand has doubled since launch, rising from an average of 205 requests per month in 2023 to 406 per month in 2025.
Yet despite this success, 727 victim-survivors eligible for intensive assistance were turned away due to capacity constraints. With current funding due to expire in June 2026, the future of this vital service remains uncertain.
What is the VLS?
The Victims Legal Service helps victims of crime gain access to financial assistance, to get their lives back on track and address pressing needs like their health and safety.
- In a Commonwealth funded partnership, it also helps victims of sexual violence when applications are made to disclose their confidential medical or counselling records in court.
- It is the first and only statewide service of its kind.
- It is delivered in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Djirra, Women’s Legal Service Victoria, Victoria Legal Aid, the Federation of Community Legal Centres and seven community legal centres.
- The model was designed together with victim-survivors to be trauma informed.
- The service includes a specialist helpline as well as more intensive legal assistance provided by partner legal services.
- The VLS was established after the Victorian Government committed $7.3 million over three years in the 2021-22 budget.
- The funding was extended for a further 12-months, however it is due to end in June 2026
Service Statistics
- The VLS has provided a total of 12,097 services to Victorian victim-survivors since it was established in March 2023
- The average number of requests for help has increased from 205 per month in 2023 to 406 per month in 2025.
- Helpline calls have increased each year, from 1,850 in 2023, to 3,734 in 2024 and 4,875 in 2025.
- The VLS has provided over 2,000 individual victim-survivors with further legal advice and/or ongoing legal assistance.
- The helpline has successfully referred 802 victims to VLS partners for more intensive legal assistance
- 727 victim-survivors have had to be turned away due to a lack of capacity in VLS partners to accept referrals, based on the current limited funding.