Justice and Human Rights

Foster kids without proof-of-life document can’t access many services and supports, including subsidised childcare, school enrolment, and a Medicare card.

"I worried whether I was inherently 'evil' for supporting my father, or even being related to him"

The 2022-23 Budget includes some sensible initiatives to improve justice system responses, but misses the opportunity to adopt a justice

Submission to the Inquiry into Children Affected by Parental Incarceration

On Thursday 24 March 2022, the Final Report of the Inquiry into Victoria’s Criminal Justice System was tables.

Submission to the Victorian Parliament's Inquiry into Victoria's Criminal Justice System

This Budget includes funding for the long-awaited spent conviction scheme.

"If I'd been in a private high-rise block, there is no way known they could have got away with it."

A guest post from Megan Weier at the Centre for Social Impact. When governments talk about ‘progress’, it’s almost always

Submission to the CAG Review of the Age of Criminal Responsibility

Joint Council of Social Service Network statement to the Council of Attorneys-General

Submission on the Public Engagement Framework Consultation Draft

Financial counsellors across Victoria say they’re stressed, overworked and fearful of making bad decisions on the job.

strong and vibrant communities will do more to prevent crime than any number of 'cops on the beat'.

At a societal level, vilification and hate divides and damages our community.

VCOSS is applauding a shift towards bipartisanship on the traditional political battleground of ‘law and order’.

All levels of Government must prioritise funding for the community legal sector.

Victoria's Charter of Human Rights was an first important step. But it’s now time for the next great stride.

All workers have a right to feel safe at work. But mandatory sentencing is not the answer.

Misleading public portrayals of crime and justice issues don't help anybody.

VCOSS has joined a coalition of justice, human rights, social service and Aboriginal organisations to call on the Victorian Government

VCOSS supports the Victims of Crime Assistance Scheme as an important way to offer justice to people recovering from the

True love is elusive. It’s difficult to define, hard to find and even harder to keep. So when two people

Victorians need fair and equitable access to legal aid. Read our submission to @VicLegalAid Means Test Review https://t.co/FjNS9IFOhb pic.twitter.com/0Yhghri8yp —

Law reform to improve the court experience for victim/survivors of family violence and sexual assault have been ongoing for more

The Victorian Government is rushing through dangerously regressive legislation that will make the state’s youth justice system cruel and less

The Victorian Government is rushing through dangerously regressive legislation that will make the state’s youth justice system cruel and less

"The robodebt system must be, to borrow a term used previously, must be ‘dead, buried and cremated’. It should not

Victorians will be rightly horrified by the revelations in The Same Four Walls, a new investigation into cruel and ineffective

VCOSS has numerous concerns about Victoria’s youth justice centres, including staff shortages, limited support and training for staff in trauma