A new Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) website is giving disadvantaged Victorians better access to legal information online.
The new
VOCAT website was launched yesterday by Attorney-General
Martin Pakula, allowing victims of crime to easily access and submit VOCAT application forms to apply for a range of support services.
Specially-made to provide the highest level of accessibility, the site even ensures its functions and features can be used by people with disabilities.
Aside from accommodating users with disabilities, the upgrade has also been optimised for use on mobile devices. Furthermore, it also provides information in languages other than English.
According to the Attorney-General, the new website will also make it easier for Victorians living in rural and regional areas by allowing them to access information and submit forms online.
It addresses themes raised in the recently published Access to Justice Review which encourages courts to make better use of technology to assist people to access information about legal issues.
Traffic to VOCAT’s old website increased by 17.3% in the last financial year, demonstrating that more people are seeking to access VOCAT information online.
The new website has already received almost 4000 visitors and 110 online applications after it went live last month.
VOCAT was established 19 years ago and has received more than 86,000 applications for financial assistance and awarded $693 million to victims of crime.
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