Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) may make a grant of legal assistance to a child for attendance only at:
- An Early Diversion Group Conference
- A Parole Stage Group Conference
VLA considers there is always a reasonable basis to attend an Early Diversion Group Conference or a Parole Stage Group Conference.
Refer to Table A.
Documentary Requirements
Applications under this guideline are within the simplified grants assessment process.
Lawyers seeking a grant of legal assistance under this guideline should submit an application via ATLAS, only after ensuring that the following documents are retained on file unless they are requested by VLA for assessment:
- a reference to guideline 5.2
- evidence of a referral for a PSGC or EDGC
- evidence of attendance at a PSGC or EDGC.
Guideline 5.2 covers police referred pre-charge EDGCs and PSGCs only. See Guideline 5.1 for restorative justice conferences that the child is required to engage in during their criminal matter including EDGCs referred by the Court, community conferences held as a condition of a diversion, and group conferences held pre-sentence or as a condition on a youth control order.
This guideline is effective from 19 October 2026.
Updated