Multidisciplinary Centres and support for victims

Multidisciplinary centres bring together a range of agencies to provide a victim-centred, integrated response to victim survivors of sexual crime and child abuse.

Learn about what MDCs are, the services they provide, and how to access their support.

About multidisciplinary centres

Multidisciplinary centres (MDCs) house a range of support services. The services provide a coordinated response for victim survivors of sexual offences (including child sexual abuse and assault) that is:

specialised
trauma-informed, and
victim-centred.

MDCs are carefully designed to provide a safe, welcoming and confidential environment for victim survivors and their support people.

Several agencies are co-located in one building to collaborate and provide victim-centred services. This includes:

specialist police
child protection practitioners
sexual assault counsellor advocates, and
community health nurses.

Locating these agencies in one building aims to improve accessibility, timeliness, and effectiveness of the services.

The services aim to promote safety and recovery. This includes timely access to support and justice options, such as reporting and investigation of sexual violence.

MDC locations

There are eight multidisciplinary centres (MDCs) across Victoria:

Bendigo
Dandenong
Geelong
Mildura
Morwell
Seaford
Shepparton
Wyndham.

MDCs are located away from police stations.

They have minimal outside signage to enhance privacy and security of visitors.

MDCs are designed to be culturally respectful and accessible.

How to access support at an MDC

Victim survivors are referred to an MDC through engagement with Victoria Police or service providers.

This ensures they can receive a tailored and coordinated response.

Services provided at an MDC

At an MDC, victim survivors can access a range of services including:

free and confidential trauma-informed therapeutic counselling and support
investigation of crimes related to sexual offences and child sexual abuse
support throughout a police or child protection investigative processes
timely, accurate and accessible information
access to video audio recorded evidence (VARE) facilities to support child victim survivors and adults with cognitive impairments to provide statements to police
health and wellbeing assessments.

At some MDCs, victim survivors can also access:

family violence support, counselling and advocacy
forensic medical suites for forensic examinations on site
remote witness facilities to provide evidence at court.

Agencies at an MDC

Agencies at the MDC will collaborate to provide coordinated and streamlined services for victim survivors.

These agencies include:

MDCs co-locate specialised investigative teams of detectives. These teams provide a victim-focused response to both sexual violence and child abuse.
The role of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT) at an MDC is to:
- investigate crimes related to sexual offences and child sexual abuse (including serious physical abuse)
- apprehend and prosecute offenders
- work with co-located partners to deliver an integrated response to victim survivors.
Police officers working at an MDC are not in uniform.
These services provide free and confidential specialist therapeutic services.
They are for adults, young people and children who have experienced sexual offences either recently, or in the past.
Where possible, the services are also provided to non-offending parents, partners, family, carers, and friends.
The role of specialist sexual assault services is to:
- promote ongoing access to evidence-informed therapeutic and specialist counselling that will support recovery, safety and healing regardless of justice response or outcomes
- ensure responses are victim survivor-led and trauma informed
- collaborate with partner agencies to provide access to information about justice options
- provide advocacy and therapeutic counselling through sexual assault and sexual offences investigation processes
- provide therapeutic responses for engagement and recovery for child sexual abuse and assault.
Child Protection’s role within the MDC is to:
- investigate matters where it is alleged that a child (aged under 17 years) is at risk of significant harm
- refer children and families to services that assist in providing the ongoing safety and wellbeing of children
- make applications to the Children's Court if the child's safety cannot be ensured within the family.
To achieve outcomes for children, young people, and their families, MDC Child Protection practitioners:
- undertake joint investigations with Victoria Police SOCIT members, and
- work collaboratively with other MDC partner agencies.
Community health nurses provide specialised services to support victim survivors' immediate and long-term health and wellbeing needs.
This includes:
- initial health need identification and care planning
- health education and health literacy
- referrals to healthcare services
- identification of gaps in screening, health and wellbeing services, and
- supporting access to relevant programs and services.
A range of other agencies may also be available depending on location including:
- forensic medical services, including examinations completed by specialised staff
- family violence responses, including police responses, specialist case management and therapeutic services
- legal services.

Updated 18 February 2025