The Children’s Court Weekend Online Remand Court (WORC) commences on Saturday 3 September 2022, through funding received in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
WORC will hear online bail and remand applications from across the State, increasing access to justice for young people in metropolitan and regional Victoria by ensuring:
access to specialist Children’s Court Magistrates;
immediate referrals to services and supports;
access to legal representation at the most critical time;
access to technology to appear in court directly from police stations or Youth Justice Centres; and
significantly reduced pressure on local Courts.
Youth Justice, the Central After Hours Assessment and Bail Placement Service (CAHABPS), Victoria Legal Aid’s Youth Crime Program and Victoria Police Specialist Children’s Court Prosecution Group have all worked closely with the Children’s Court to set up WORC, using the expertise and cooperation developed over the last two years during the justice system’s crisis response and digital transformation.
