VIC Melbourne ARC List Magistrates Court List Today

The Melbourne ARC List sits within the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, and it is one of the most significant therapeutic court streams operating in Victoria today. The Assessment and Referral Court (ARC) List was formally established under the Magistrates' Court Amendment (Assessment and Referral Court List) Act 2010, with its first sitting day held on 21 April 2010. Melbourne was the founding venue, and the model has since expanded to eleven additional Magistrates' Court locations across the state. This page publishes the daily ARC List hearing schedule for Melbourne so that accused persons, lawyers, case managers, families and court support workers can confirm listings quickly and prepare for the sitting day ahead.

Unlike the mainstream criminal list, the ARC List is a pre-sentence, solution-focused stream designed for accused persons living with a diagnosed mental illness or cognitive impairment. Hearings are deliberately less formal. Rather than a magistrate presiding from the bench while the accused stands in the dock, ARC hearings take place around a table where the magistrate sits alongside the participant, their lawyer, a police prosecutor and an ARC case manager. That round-table format is central to the program's therapeutic approach, and it explains why ARC listings are managed separately from the general Melbourne criminal roll.

What the Melbourne ARC List Covers

The ARC List addresses the underlying drivers of offending behaviour rather than treating each charge in isolation. It combines a problem-solving court approach with coordinated case management delivered through the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP). Since its inception in 2010, the ARC List had received more than 1,100 referrals within its first years of operation, reflecting steady demand for a stream that supports vulnerable accused persons who were previously moved through the system without their needs being considered.

Participation is voluntary, and an accused person must agree before a matter is heard in the ARC List. It is a pre-sentence court, which means that at the end of an ARC episode the magistrate retains the full range of sentencing options available in the mainstream court, including the power to impose a term of imprisonment. Eligible participants can receive up to 12 months of coordinated support before being sentenced by an ARC magistrate who takes their progress into account.

Eligibility Criteria for the ARC List

Eligibility for the Melbourne ARC List is set out in Section 4T of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 and is assessed against three separate tests. An accused person must satisfy all three before the Court decides whether the matter is suitable.

• Diagnostic criteria: The person must be diagnosed with one or more of a mental illness, an intellectual disability, an acquired brain injury, an autism spectrum disorder, or a neurological impairment such as dementia.
• Functional criteria: That diagnosis must cause a substantially reduced capacity in at least one of self-care, self-management, social interaction, or communication.
• Needs and benefit criteria: The person must be likely to benefit from coordinated services delivered under an individual support plan.

To take part, an accused person must usually be on bail, and the charged offence must fall within the catchment area, known as the proper venue, of an ARC location. A referral may still be made while a person is in custody if it is likely they will be released into the community. Contested bail hearings, however, continue to be heard in the mainstream stream rather than the ARC List.

How a Referral Into the ARC List Works

One of the strengths of the ARC model is that a referral can be made by almost anyone connected to the matter. This includes the accused person themselves, their family, community service organisations, a magistrate, Victoria Police, the accused person's lawyer, or the CISP team. A referral and adjournment should be sought at the earliest opportunity, which can occur at a bail hearing or a mention hearing.

Supporting material is required before the first ARC hearing. This typically includes medical or diagnostic information about the person's condition, details of any prior convictions or remand summaries, and information about current or past support services. Once a referral is lodged, an ARC case manager assesses the accused person for eligibility and submits a report to the ARC magistrate, who makes the final decision. If the person is accepted and enters a plea of guilty, sentencing occurs within the ARC List at the conclusion of the support plan. If a plea of not guilty is entered, the matter is transferred to the mainstream court for a contested hearing.

Why the ARC List Matters: The Evidence

The therapeutic court model exists because it produces measurable outcomes. Independent research examining ARC List participants found that successful completion of the program reduced recidivism for 50 per cent of offenders diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a cohort widely acknowledged as difficult to support through conventional justice processes. The same body of research recorded that where reoffending did occur, the majority of it, around 82 per cent, took place within the first year after the program, which underlines how important sustained post-program support is for lasting change.

These outcomes sit within a broader Victorian context. Victoria has historically maintained one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country, and specialist streams such as the ARC List, the Drug Court and CISP contribute to that record by targeting the health, housing, disability and substance-use factors that drive repeat offending. For participants living with complex needs, the difference between a mainstream sentence and a coordinated support plan can be the difference between a cycle of return appearances and genuine stability.

Finding the Melbourne ARC List Today

CourtListAU publishes the daily Melbourne ARC List so you can check the day's hearings without navigating multiple government systems. Listings are updated each sitting day and are searchable by court venue, making it straightforward to confirm whether a matter is scheduled and which sitting it belongs to. Because ARC hearings are managed as a distinct stream, they are grouped separately from the general Melbourne criminal and civil rolls, which reduces confusion for participants attending their first hearing.

For a full picture of every sitting venue across the state, the Victoria daily court lists page brings together the Magistrates', County and Supreme Court schedules in one searchable directory covering more than 51 venues. If your matter relates to a mainstream summary or indictable charge rather than the therapeutic stream, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court list covers the general criminal and civil roll heard at 233 William Street. ARC List streams also operate at other venues, and you can view the Dandenong ARC list if your matter falls within that catchment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ARC stand for in the Melbourne court list?

ARC stands for Assessment and Referral Court. It is a specialist, pre-sentence court list for accused persons who have a diagnosed mental illness or cognitive impairment, operating at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and eleven other Victorian venues.

Where is the Melbourne ARC List held?

The Melbourne ARC List is heard at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, 233 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. The court is generally open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Is participation in the ARC List compulsory?

No. Participation is entirely voluntary, and an accused person must agree before a matter is heard in the ARC List. If a participant is unable to engage with the program, their case may be transferred to the mainstream court for sentencing.

How long does an ARC episode last?

Eligible participants can receive up to 12 months of coordinated support under an individual support plan before an ARC magistrate takes their progress into account at sentencing.

Who can make a referral to the ARC List?

A referral can be made by the accused person, their family, community service organisations, a magistrate, Victoria Police, a lawyer, or the Court Integrated Services Program. It should be sought at the earliest opportunity, such as at a bail or mention hearing.