CAV ADVOCACY
Ballarat and Horsham

Advocacy and support for consumers and private tenants.

Introduction

PACT Community Support provides a service it calls “CAV Advocacy”, being advocacy and support for some clients of Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV).

Consumer Affairs Victoria provides a broad range of services – see { LINK http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au }.

Consumer Affairs Victoria contracts with PACT, and various organisations in other regions, to provide additional assistance to clients who are assessed as vulnerable or disadvantaged. Specifically, these clients will be vulnerable or disadvantaged Victorian consumers and private rental tenants who:

• are involved in Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearings in Victoria; or
• require support services that Consumer Affairs Victoria considers are more effectively provided by PACT.

Nature of Services

Consumer Affairs Victoria will refer vulnerable or disadvantaged consumers and private rental tenants to PACT who require the following services:

• VCAT Advocacy - appearing with the client at VCAT hearings and supporting the client as an advocate; or
• Support Services – other services that are required to be delivered, normally face to face. These services comprise:
• Dispute Resolution Support - assisting referred clients by utilising a range of negotiation, advocacy or conciliation techniques to assist in the resolution of disputes with traders or landlords, including assisting with preparation of documents relating to VCAT hearings or dispute resolution; and
• Information Assistance – assisting referred client in reviewing and explaining documents, and providing information and advice on rights and processes.

The Service Delivery Area

PACT provides CAV Advocacy for Central West Region of Victoria, sometimes referred to as the Grampians Region, comprising the following Local Government Areas:
• Ararat
• Ballarat
• Golden Plains
• Hepburn
• Moorabool
• Pyrenees
• Hindmarsh
• Horsham
• Northern Grampians
• West Wimmera
• Yarriambiack.

VCAT Coverage

PACT is able to attend all VCAT hearings for vulnerable or disadvantaged consumers and tenants, referred as clients, in the Central West Region of Victoria. This may include coverage for clients from the Central West Region of Victoria at VCAT hearings held in other Regions.

The locations for VCAT hearings in the Central West Region of Victoria are:
• Ballarat (Tuesdays & Thursdays)
• Horsham (Mondays)
• Ararat (Thursdays)*
• Stawell (Wednesdays)*

*Sittings may be held at these venues from time to time according to need.

Referrals

Usually referrals to CAV Advocacy will be made via Consumer Affairs Victoria. However if prospective clients or other professionals believe that a client is eligible and in need of PACT’s assistance, they are able to contact PACT directly and make a request.

PACT Community Support
Ballarat Ph 5333 1351
Freecall 1800 660 556

Horsham  5382 6300
Freecall 1800 660 446