The Victorian Public Advocate provides Independent Third Persons to support alleged offenders, victims and witnesses with cognitive impairments including intellectual disabilities in police stations.
In 2019-2020 the office assisted 2689 clients, 55.7 per cent of whom have an intellectual disability — 166 were victims of sexual assault.
Victims of Crime Commissioner Fiona McCormack said the rates of violence and abuse perpetrated against people with disability were “shocking”, including high rates of sexual abuse of women with an intellectual disability and the victims faced significant barriers in accessing the justice system.