Inaugural Aboriginal Witness Assistance Officer

The engagement of an identified Aboriginal Witness Assistance Officer within the

ODPP has several purposes. The first is to provide culturally appropriate specialist services to Aboriginal witnesses and victims of crime in ODPP matters. The other is to provide training and awareness to ODPP staff so that they are better able to understand cultural and community considerations in matters involving Aboriginal people, so that those considerations can be considered in the conduct of prosecutions.

In 2022, the scope of the Aboriginal WAO role was reviewed and for a range of reasons the ODPP has determined that two identified WAOs are required.

The ODPP expect to advertise the two positions in the first half of 2023-24.

Court Canine Companion (CCC Project)

The CCC Project aims to provide children and vulnerable adults, who are involved with ODPP criminal matters with increased practical support and assistance. It is recognised that vulnerable victims, especially children may find the prosecution process challenging and stressful. The use of the CCC (a golden Labrador named Zeb) assists in calming vulnerable victims, lowering anxiety and supports the building of rapport.

In the 2022-23 financial year, Zeb has attended 41 witness and victim sessions, provided assistance in the courts CCTV waiting room on 14 occasions and assisted 3 victims giving evidence in the courts CCTV suite.

The CCC Program is now an ongoing part of ODPP operations to assist vulnerable victims and witnesses as they progress through the criminal prosecution process.

The introduction of the Electronic Courts Management System (ECMS) into the criminal jurisdiction.

On 29 August 2022, Court SA, in the Criminal, Care and Protection and special jurisdictions, commenced an the Electronic Courts Management System (ECMS).

This system enables court users to obtain services "online". Prosecuting agencies and defendants have the ability to source data about a case via an online portal (including hearing dates, court outcomes etc) and those parties have the ability to lodge documents via the portal and receive notification of events when they occur.

The ECMS project aims to deliver an online portal which can be accessed by all parties within the criminal justice system.

Preparations for the ECMS by the ODPP have been ongoing since early 2021. The ODPP has modified business processes in relation to lodgement of documents via the online portal, including receipt of police briefs in wholly electronic format. ODPP staff underwent a familiarisation and training program in the new system prior to the go-live date.

Data Modelling and Analytics

Data modelling and visual displays of key information will assist management and staff to understand how to better manage workload and the finite resources of the Office. The development of models is complex and requires specialist knowledge; it is therefore costly. The Office will pursue these opportunities whenever they present themselves but cannot commit to achieving outcomes in this project as all available surplus resources are being diverted into operation needs for legal resources in managing large matters.

Late in 2022-23, representatives of the ODPP met with the Office for Data Analytics, DPC, with a view to the feasibility of developing a case outcome predictor model to assist in optimising workload, resource allocation and operational costs for the ODPP. The model will aid managers to identify cases where early resolution may be possible.

A further data model is to be pursued to utilise the data collected over the last two years from the ODPP Trial Counsel Section to develop data models/visual representations of this data in a way that provides meaningful, timely and accurate information to the Director and staff about their work.

Electronic Exhibit Presentation System

Presentation of paper copies of exhibits to all parties during a trial for large matters is time consuming and resource intensive. The introduction of an Electronic Exhibit Presentation System will create efficiencies.

In early 2022-23, the ODPP proposed the use of an Electronic Exhibit Presentation System for a large murder matter. A pilot of this system was used to test this system prior to its use in a large matter. This pilot proved successful.

The system was then used in the large murder matter with similar success and the ODPP will be considering the implementation of such a system across all large and complex matters to assist with resourcing issues. Courts Administration personnel were involved in the use of the system in both the pilot and the subsequent trial.

Wellbeing

The ODPP has developed a number of strategies and program to ensure that staff are aware of the risks of psychological harm in the workplace and know that there is a range of supports available to them and their colleagues in the case of an adverse event.

During 2022-23, the ODPP :

• Continued to offer Mental Health First Aid Training to staff and managers.

• Continued   to provide mandatory Annual Wellbeing

Checks for the VWT, as well as other staff on voluntary basis.

• Continued a program of 6 monthly   workshops on vicarious trauma, burnout and wellbeing.

• Psychological   checks continued on an as needed basis for staff, offering three paid sessions.

• Weekly   assessments of caseloads for solicitors using data models and metrics to optimise allocation of new files.

2023 Workplace Experience Report

In early 2022-23, the Attorney- General's Department in conjunction with the ODPP, sought engagement with an external provider to develop a report to obtain better information about employee separation and retention issues over 2020-2023. The original proposal was for a 4- stage process.

The first stage, the survey of current and former staff, was provided at the end of March 2023. The final report from the external provider was released in early 2023-24 containing 20 recommendations.