This annual report reflects a year of continued dedication to ensuring that the voices of victims and survivors are not only heard but acted upon.

As Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, my role is to stand alongside those who have experienced crime - to listen, to challenge, and to advocate for meaningful change across the criminal justice system.

The past year has brought both progress and persistent challenges; moments of promise, as well as clear reminders of the work that still lies ahead. Through this report, I aim to demonstrate the achievements of my office and highlight what more must be done to place victims’ rights and needs at the heart of justice.

A significant development was the commencement of the Statutes Amendment (Victims of Crime) Act 2024 on 1 April 2025, which introduced important reforms to the Sentencing Act 2017 and the Victims of Crime Act 2001.

Victims now have greater freedom to express themselves in their own words when preparing a victim impact statement—without unnecessary pressure to edit or sanitise their experiences.

These changes strengthen victims’ voices in criminal proceedings, enhancing both recognition and a sense of procedural justice. In response, Victims of Crime SA (VOCSA) has revised the victim impact statement form and guidelines and developed a short video resource to further support victims in exercising this important right.

The Amendment Act also extended the initial application period for state-funded compensation from three years to five years. This is a reform I strongly advocated for, given that a three-year timeframe was often unrealistic when many criminal proceedings are not finalised within that period.

This change provides victims with a fairer and more accessible pathway to seek financial recognition of the harm they have suffered.

I was also pleased to see the commencement of reforms to the terminology used in relation to the defence of mental incompetence under Division 2 of Part 8A of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935. The previous finding of “not guilty by reason of mental incompetence” has been replaced with “conduct proved but not criminally responsible due to mental incompetence.”

Both I, and my predecessor, had long advocated for this reform in response to the concerns of victims. Many victims expressed distress with the former terminology, which they felt minimised the seriousness of the offence and their suffering and contributed to a profound sense of injustice.

Language is powerful, and this change better reflects victims’ experiences and their need for recognition and validation, while still appropriately acknowledging the defendant’s mental health needs.

Another significant milestone was the commencement of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.

This marked a critical opportunity to examine systemic gaps, listen directly to the experiences of victim-survivors, and recommend reforms that will improve safety, accountability, and justice. I actively engaged with the Royal Commission, contributing written submissions and appearing as a witness on day two of the public hearings.

My office’s submission addressed all four domains of prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing, with a primary focus on response and recovery.

I emphasised the need for inclusive prevention strategies, expanded early intervention and behaviour change programs, better engagement of health professionals, and practical tools for people seeking to change harmful behaviours.

I raised concerns about persistent myths and misconceptions surrounding domestic, family, and sexual violence and their harmful influence on victims and within the criminal justice system.

I recommended the development of toolkits for practitioners to counter misinformation, alongside greater access to independent advocates or advisers to support victim-survivors in navigating the justice system.

I also noted the need for more inclusive and holistic support services, better resourcing to address court delays, and reconsideration of practices such as the use of good character references for convicted offenders.

I stressed that recovery is long-term and requires secure housing, financial independence, and consistent, connected services. Victim-survivors need stability and strong referral pathways, not fragmented or transitory supports.

My submission highlighted the unique needs of people with disability, First Nations peoples, and victim-survivors from culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTQIA+ communities. I emphasised the importance of culturally safe and inclusive services, stronger use of communication support for people with disability, and ensuring voices of First Nations peoples remain central to reforms.

Finally, I called for investment across all four domains, not just crisis and justice responses, and urged a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to ensure sustainable reform.

Last year, I discussed a downward trend in complaints from victims of crime, expressing concern about possible under-reporting which would likely obscure important issues.

This year, I am encouraged to see an increase compared with 2023-24. While numbers alone do not tell the full story, they indicate that more victims are finding their voice and exercising their right to complain.

I remain committed to building on this progress—pursuing new ways to raise awareness and ensuring that the complaints process is visible, straightforward, and genuinely accessible to all who need it.

It is important to note that victims may lodge complaints directly with criminal justice agencies such as the South Australia Police or the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

If a complaint is satisfactorily resolved between the victim and the agency, it is unlikely that I, as Commissioner, would become aware of it. There is a strong case for requiring criminal justice agencies to report annually to the Commissioner for Victims’ Rights on their compliance with victims’ rights and complaints resolution.

Changes have also been introduced to the way complaints are captured and reported, providing greater detail on complaint outcomes.

This year, VOCSA commenced a dedicated project to enhance the accessibility and cultural relevance of information for Aboriginal victims of crime.

The initiative aims to ensure Aboriginal people are informed of their rights and the services available to them, while also strengthening engagement with Aboriginal organisations and service providers.

Douglas Clinch was appointed as project manager, undertaking extensive consultation before developing a serious of recommendations including commissioning Aboriginal artwork to reflect a victim’s journey, creating a tailored information booklet and postcard with QR code linking to a new Aboriginal-specific landing page on the VOCSA website, and equipping service providers with culturally appropriate resources.

With the project manager’s role now completed, it is important to continue this work. As such I intend to appoint an Aboriginal Engagement Officer, ensuring the initiative is sustained and embedded within VOCSA’s ongoing engagement and support for Aboriginal victims.

I wish to acknowledge and thank all members of my office for their dedication over the past year. Despite its small size, the team has made a significant impact, assisting countless victims of crime in meaningful and tangible ways.

VOCSA continues to prioritise the empowerment of victims, supporting them through information, advocacy, complaints resolution, and the preparation of victim impact statements.

I take this moment to recognise the courage of those who contact my office to recount their experiences of crime and the criminal justice system, and who champion change.

Their lived experiences are the cornerstone of my work, ensuring it is both informed and deeply responsive to the realities they face.