Working safely as we reopen

Easing restrictions mean we can open up more service types, find out what our vaccination requirements are for clients, as well as our gradual return to duty lawyer services at court.

Vaccinations and working with clients

We’re working hard to keep everyone safe as restrictions ease in Victoria and services reopen under the Government’s roadmap. To do this, we have developed new requirements for checking vaccination status when conducting in-person client appointments and face-to-face services.

Delivery of face-to-face services during high transmission periods can still present some risks to staff and to unvaccinated clients. We recognise that providing advice and assistance online is challenging for some clients. Being vaccinated greatly reduces the risk of contracting coronavirus and it also decreases the likelihood of serious illness if you are infected.

As we reopen metro and CBD office receptions, we will have ‘walk-in’ clients returning to our offices without prior notice. This might be to ask about available services, to request to speak to their lawyer or to get legal or referral information. These unscheduled visits are important for clients who do not have ready access to the internet or a telephone, or who have challenges communicating.

Under Victoria’s COVID-19 Roadmap, essential services remain open to members of the public who are unvaccinated. In line with this approach, VLA will not require sighting of proof of vaccination from ‘walk-in’ clients who are expected to be on the premises for less than 10 minutes.

We now offer different types of services in line with COVID-19 restrictions. Face-to-face client appointments will be limited to matters where the service cannot be reasonably facilitated in another way. If that type of appointment is appropriate, we will ask about the client’s health and vaccination status, evidence of vaccination will need to be sighted before the face-to-face appointment goes ahead.

For unvaccinated clients, we will look to provide services remotely or delay the service until they are vaccinated, without disadvantaging them. We also have a range of mitigations in place such as well-ventilated spaces, frequent cleaning and the use of face masks to keep everyone safe.

Gradual return of duty lawyer services at courts

As services reopen across Victoria, we’re looking forward to a return to duty lawyer services at Court, starting with our first remand and mentions services.

Those services will return to an at Court service by 10 January 2022 state-wide. Over the next month we will be working to transition and in many locations we are likely to be back before 10 January.

In returning to Court we will make sure we don’t lose the benefits of new ways of working which have been developed during the pandemic. We will continue to provide our Help Before Court services which means that our clients will have flexibility to access help before their Court date or from the duty lawyer at Court.

Because duty lawyers provided face to face services, VLA will be checking the vaccination status of people who are seeking assistance. Vaccination status won’t impact eligibility for a service, but will impact the way we deliver the service.

We’re looking forward to continuing to offer flexibility in service types both online and in-person to meet the needs of the community while keeping everyone safe.

More information

For any queries please email Kate Bundrock, Program Manager, Summary Crime at kate.bundrock@vla.vic.gov.au