In 2006 Victoria enacted the Victims’ Charter Act 2006 (Vic) (the Charter). The Charter sets out minimum standards and entitlements that apply to justice and victims’ services agencies when interacting with victims of crime. Embedding the Charter into law was a powerful signal of victim survivors’ place in the justice system. 

This review examines whether the Charter is operating to benefit victim survivors of crime. After 19 years of operation, it is an historic moment to reflect on whether the Charter is still meeting its aims in contemporary Victoria. 

The review examines the legislative framework that governs how victim survivors are treated within the justice system, identifies where those laws are working well and where they fall short. It sets out key findings and provides 25 recommendations, presenting a reform agenda for victim survivors’ rights.

The review finds that for the Charter to operate more effectively and meet victim survivors’ needs it must be: 

1. widely known, understood and applied
2. inclusive, with an easy to use format reflecting contemporary expectations
3. effective at providing victim survivors with protection from harm caused by the justice system
4. strongly monitored through robust compliance and complaints processes
5. regularly reviewed to maintain the Charter’s impact.