Health Agency to Court

WEstjustice is working with the Werribee Mercy Hospital, Fines Victoria, the Centre for Innovative Justice, toll road operators and other CLCs to assist Wyndham residents who collectively owe more than $54 million in unpaid fines.

Justice figures revealed that 147,716 warrants for unpaid fines were issued to Wyndham residents in 2013-2014. New data from the Sheriff’s Office shows that unpaid toll-way fines dwarf all other categories of unpaid fines by a factor of nearly 2.5:1.

Many of our local residents with unpaid toll fines suffer from special circumstances and struggle to get the legal help they need.  The LAW Survey demonstrates that people seek advice from a legal adviser for only 16% of all legal problems, whereas health or welfare advisers provided legal help in 35-53% of cases. This finding highlights the critical importance of that first point of contact in ensuring that vulnerable clients are referred to appropriate legal assistance.

‘Health Agency to Court’ has established a Health Justice Partnership with the Mercy Mental Health Program at Werribee Hospital, through which vulnerable psychiatric patients with fines and debts are identified and provided with legal assistance and representation.  We have also established the Wyndham Health Justice Network comprising of 17 member agencies from the health, justice and community sectors which works to build collaboration between our services to better assist vulnerable clients.  We are also leading the fight to reform the toll fines enforcement system and undertaking broader infringements system advocacy as co-convenors of the Infringements Working Group.

‘Health Agency to Court’ has been generously funded by the Victorian Legal Service Board.

 The final report 'Health Agency to Court: Tackling the Fines System Evaluation Report 2018-2019' is here

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