Winnie Wang

The Family Violence Branch (FVB) supports the Court in delivering and continuously improving specialist family violence services and systems.

Key responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership to identify, develop and implement key family violence projects to improve practices and processes, service delivery, court user experience and technology within resourcing, timelines, and budget parameters. Lead a multi-disciplinary team comprised of five direct reports (three managers and two project managers) and 18 operational staff members.

Achievements

• Delivered a series of briefs to the Chief Magistrate and MCV CEO on the strategic direction of family violence programs within tight timeframes.
• Created a new court mandated family violence intervention program model based on research, extensive stakeholder consultation and negotiation with vendors.
• Delivered various contract variations and extensions which enabled continued service delivery of programs.
• Oversaw and managed complex budgets and payment models ensuring procurement activities and contract negotiations remained within budget parameters.
• Developed capability within the team through effective coaching and fostering a collaborative and positive work culture.

Key responsibilities

Developed, coordinated and responded to family violence related policies and programs to enhance the Court’s response to family violence.

Achievements

• Appointed Acting Principal Policy Officer to oversee the Court mandated counselling order program (CMCOP) and manage a team of five staff.
• Developed options, and provided expert strategic advice to judiciary and executive, on sustainable solutions for programs.
• Published guidelines, operating standards and court forms for service delivery.
• Drafted key messages on highly complex and sensitive matters, and led a communication strategy, which mitigated reputational risks.

The CCV’s Criminal Division hears indictable offences under Victorian and Commonwealth law, as well as appeals from the Magistrates’ Court and Children’s Court.

Key responsibilities

As part of the Criminal Division administration leadership team, and practice and procedure group, led and implemented changes to state-wide practice and procedures arising from legislative change or process reform and improvement.

Achievements

• Project managed and created new procedures and processes in response to legislative reforms to sentence indication hearings, trial by judge alone and special hearings under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997by judge alone.
• Drafted the Criminal Division Practice Note which governs the practice and procedure of criminal hearings in the County Court.
• Developed new systems and processes for split indictments, applications for bail, issuing subpoenas, production and release of subpoenaed material and case management which improved court user experience.
• Contributed to reducing the Criminal Division pending case load by analysing briefs of evidence and providing case management recommendations to judicial officers.

Key responsibilities

Provided high-level and comprehensive strategic, legal and policy advice to the judge, who was the Head of the Criminal Division (HoD), in order to support the HoD’s effective leadership of the Division.

Key achievements

• Led and implemented changes to practices and procedures in response to COVID-19.
• Successfully implemented electronic trials pilot through effective consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provided the Court’s response to Community Correctional Services’ Higher Courts Process Review.
• Drafted sections of the Court’s annual report and reported on the Criminal Division’s operation, performance and activities.

The JCV is an independent body which investigates complaints about the conduct and capacity of judicial officers and non-judicial members of the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)

Key responsibilities

Investigated and analysed complaints made against judicial officers and members of VCAT.

Achievements

• Provided high level advice to the Director of the JCV and the Board of the JCV on whether a complaint should be dismissed, referred to an investigating panel or the head of jurisdiction under the Judicial Commission of Victoria Act 2016.
• Drafted sensitive and confidential letters, notifications and reports to judicial officers, government organisations and complainants.

The OPP is Victoria’s largest criminal practice and prepares and conducts indictable (serious) matters on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Key responsibilities

Prepared matters for litigation which included analysing briefs of evidence to determine sufficiency of evidence, providing oral or written advice to Crown Prosecutors and managers as to complex legal issues and options for resolution, preparing memorandums of instruction, conferencing complainants and witnesses, and instructing counsel in court for criminal pre-trial, trial and appeal hearings.

Achievements

• Achieved high rates of early resolution of matters resulting in utilitarian benefits to parties, witnesses and the community.
• Two successful DPP appeals against sentence to the County Court.
• Managed and prepared 50 to 70 County Court conviction and sentence appeals, within tight timeframes.
• Successfully negotiated costs on behalf of the Chief Commissioner of Police.

The DC is South Australia’s principal trial court and hears criminal, civil, administrative, disciplinary and criminal injury matters.

Key responsibilities

Provided legal and administrative assistance in and out of court to judges of the DC, liaising with the judiciary, legal profession, litigants, witnesses, court staff and the general public to ensure the effective and efficient processing of court and chamber matters.

Achievements

• Delivered a comprehensive legal and research service.
• Drafted, edited and proofread sentencing remarks, criminal verdicts, and civil judgments.
• Appointed senior associate and managed seven associates.

Completed practical legal training placement at Camatta Lempens, an Adelaide based law firm providing legal services in all areas of law.

Franklin Legal was an Adelaide based law firm specialising in family law and criminal law. Obtained instructions from clients and drafted letters, applications for victims of crime assistance and consent minutes of orders pertaining to family law matters.