VOCAL - Then and Now
VOCAL was established in 1989 after the ongoing stalking, and tragic murder of teenager, Tracey Gilbert at Woodberry, a quiet little place just west of Newcastle on the east coast of NSW. Appalled to learn that it can be difficult to stop a stalker, the community was further disgusted and horrified at the way her case proceeded. 

Dawn Gilbert, Tracey's mother, learned that the victim’s needs were not being addressed, and there were few opportunities for families left after murder to meet, to heal and to address victim's justice issues. She became the backbone of the new community charity group VOCAL, dedicated to assisting others, lobbying for change, informing the community and speaking out against injustice. It was for Dawn, a way of making her beloved child's death have purpose instead of being just a tragic waste – the product of a criminal system based on the rights of an accused, not the victim. You can read her personal story in victim’s stories.

It was victims and their families, after discovering that their needs were irrelevant to Criminal Law, 18 years ago in NSW via VOCAL Inc, who pioneered victim-inclusive strategies and the concept of Victims Rights. It is victims then, and since, who speak out about what they experienced and their stories of how they were treated after a serious crime whose cases have lead to the successful lobbying for the concept of rights for victims of crime.

The provision of support services by VOCAL Inc NSW has, since 1998, been partially funded by The NSW Attorney General’s Department via the Victims Services Department, on an annual basis, to contribute to the cost of operating a Victim Support Service in the Hunter Region of NSW.

Today, VOCAL assists victims of any type of violent crime or tragedy. It remains dedicated to achieving a fair go for victims of crime, their families, friends, and general community. 

VOCAL Inc NSW was the first, and the longest running generalist (any crime) victim support agency in NSW. There’s a lot of real, grass-roots experience in those seventeen years.

Since 1989, after years of ground-breaking work, many things have changed for victims of violent crime. There is a coordinated government response to providing counselling and compensation to some victims of some personal, violent crimes. There are now many more services directed to assisting some victims of specific types of crime – like Domestic Violence, Homicide, Sexual Assault, Incest, Child abuse etc.

VOCAL makes referrals to relevant services where they exist and where they do not exist, fills in lots of gaps; big gaps. Crime can impact and mess up any aspect of life – sometimes forever. Helping victims survive and move forward in life is important work. The system is important, but it is only part of what many victims need to address, after a crime.

VOCAL – A Generalist Holistic Service
Today, VOCAL Inc NSW remains a unique service because it is a generalist, holistic service:
• For any person who has been threatened, bullied or harmed 
• For victims of any crime or similar tragedy
• Through any stage of life after crime, including - but not limited to 'the system'

We want appropriate services to be available to everyone who needs them, not just selected services for specified victim types. By working together as a team, combining our experiences and skills, and determined to do the very best we can, we assist people - victims, relatives, friends, witnesses, service providers and communities affected and harmed by any type of crime, particularly violent crime. We'll try. Any victim, any issue, at any time.

Currently, services for different victim-specific crimes work to change aspects of their, and only their, client type’s experiences. Victims of other crimes miss out. That’s an unnecessary shackle on improving the system. Defence lawyers wouldn’t have it any other way.
Take John, for example:
'Scarcely able to breathe I rang the police because I heard a woman had been murdered at Medowie. At first they didn't want to tell me anything. After putting me through a bit, they asked me to make a statement. I was exhausted after that.

Then they asked me to identify her body at the morgue. I'd never done that before, it seemed the least thing I could do for her - she was there at the morgue, all alone...I thought I was ready because you see it on TV – but that was very misleading and I was wrong. It never crossed my mind that her post mortem exam had not been done so she was still all bloodied and her fear showed. She had been stabbed to death. Twenty-two times they said.

I may never forget that sight of this glorious, feisty, warm and loving woman. This was not just a visual take you get from TV. This was a visceral thing - a reaction like tearing my heart and throat out. There was no one to warn me about what I would see or how it might affect me, no one to 'counsel' me - before or after the identification.

I lived for the next eighteen months in fear and locked into the horror of her death, waiting. I'd been told to be ready to give evidence, so you can't let yourself forget, not for a second. If I did I might let her, and the children, down. The idea of giving evidence, about her, in front of him, about what I knew - terrified me.

I had a mental breakdown. At least he pleaded guilty, eventually. It's still pretty vivid though.

I'm not classed as a victim of crime - we'd only been in a relationship for two months - just fallen in love - so I can't qualify for counselling under the NSW Government Approved Counselling Scheme. I would have had to witness the murder to qualify for free counselling. I could get counselling if I could pay, or by waiting until a Health Department counsellor was available.

I found not all professionals understand, not all are really interested and anyway, counselling isn't really the answer but it can help.

I came to VOCAL; they knew Heather because they cared for her for over two years as a Domestic Violence victim who was in fear of being murdered - through many challenges. She had told me they gave her the courage to live her best life, every day, instead of living like a victim, waiting to die.

I'm trying to get on with my life and I keep coming back to VOCAL. My new lady is welcome at VOCAL as she copes with me. Her life has been changed very much, but she's not a victim, nor are my children. They just have to cope with me, and I'm trying to be a normal person, trying to be 'me' again.

VOCAL understand just how many people are affected, for how long and how it forces changes in everything - every aspect of life you once took for granted. It changes everything.

It's hard to comprehend I'm not even 'a victim of crime'. I certainly feel like one.
John (2004)

A United Front
VOCAL believes victim focused change will only happen comprehensively when groups supporting different categories of victims begin to work together for common goals. One of VOCAL's recent collaborative programs is reflected at www.kidsindistress.org.au a site that deals with crime, family break-up, family violence, and the Family Court.

The Dream...
Imagine if all the different types of victim and survivor groups worked cooperatively together, there would be a momentous force for positive change. Perhaps even strong enough to change the CRIMINAL legal system?
Divide and conquer... 

The task has just begun…

Why VOCAL?
Because many involved with working for VOCAL Inc NSW have themselves been victims of crime, we understand in a special way some of what it feels like to be a victim and what victims might need. Life after crime can be a whole lot more complex than police, criminals, counselling, court and compensation - quite unlike TV programs we may believe are somewhat realistic. We seek to empower each individual victim to get fair and relevant responses based on their needs.

There's a sign on our wall that says:
'We believe that service at VOCAL includes the type of 'things' that can't be bought with money or measured in a mathematical way. We offer sincerity, truth, common sense, kindness, generosity and a sprinkle of inspiration, free of charge.'

One of our recent homicide families said 'You need to alter that sign! We asked what he wanted to change. He said ' You need to add “giggles”. He explained that since the murder he and his wife rarely smiled, laughed or saw anything to lighten their load. He said they came into VOCAL not knowing what to expect - anxious - sick of people who didn't understand. He said that within five minutes of arriving, they found themselves giggling and realised how long it had been since they felt comfortable enough to 'just be'. He went on to say how important a point in their recovery that had been for them. He said, 'You gave us the right to laugh - when we somehow had taken on board the thought that was a wrong thing for grieving people in such an awful matter to do.'

Through the provision of service, we can offer our clients the awareness and skills they will need to help them to learn how to recognise each opportunity to heal, get stronger, to find their resilience, to get some power and in doing so minimise the impact of any systemic and other re-victimisation.

Client Feedback
Victims regularly report relief and claim an instant rapport with VOCAL staff and volunteers. We are not perfect; we just do our very best. We are regularly told by our clients that our type of help is often like a catalyst; the spark that helps them begin to create personal and positive self-belief and power, where perhaps they had felt helpless or stuck in anger, pain, grief, loss or self doubt. We see ourselves as being at the same level as, and walking with, our clients - not superior with power over them. We are available when they need help, not at some hour, several days / weeks away.

Over the years we have received extremely positive feedback from clients and service providers; here are just a few:

'You don't talk down to me, you don't act superior. And you don't expect real people to fit into bureaucratic pigeon-holes. It works for me!'  
Male victim of rape, relationship violence, and child sexual assault.

'I was very impressed that you focus on the individual people - not just men, or women or children but people! You don't just offer a band-aid, but real help where it is needed, guidance when it applies and you are all so generous and caring. I've watched you - you just accept each client in a non-judgemental way, you don't blame them, they tell their story and make their complaints of injustice and victimisation. You hear what clients say, you validate them, you calm them then show them the opportunities that exist, and then you help them understand the challenges and choices you can predict. You give them what they need, teach them to step out of the drama at each challenge. You show them how to make informed choices with a real comprehension of their chances of success and the rewards of doing the best they can. You teach them what 'justice' means to victims of crime. You should change the name of 'The VOCAL Centre' to 'The Opportunity Shop'.
Scott; Health professional.

'Nice talking to you today. Sometimes I think you are the only sane person I speak to. You are certainly the only one who doesn’t blame me that my son was raped by his father, or for his awful temper outbursts. 'No family should be destroyed as mine was ...by post traumatic stress disorder. I almost went insane. I'm still here...I'm treading the water of political indifference and I'm floating in the mire of this social injustice...but I'm still here.’ 
Mother of two children damaged by both sexual abuse perpetrated by their father, and by the inadequacy of the legal system.