The Ringwood Assessment and Referral Court (ARC) list is a specialist therapeutic stream of the Ringwood Magistrates' Court, sitting at 39 Ringwood Street, Ringwood, Victoria 3134. Unlike a standard mention or contest mention list, the ARC list is designed for accused persons whose offending is connected to mental illness or cognitive impairment. If you are searching for the Ringwood ARC daily list, a hearing date, or details about how the program works, this page brings the practical information together in one place so you can prepare with confidence and arrive at court knowing what to expect.
The Assessment and Referral Court operates as a pre-sentence, problem-solving list within the Magistrates' Court of Victoria. Its purpose is to address the underlying factors that contribute to a person's contact with the criminal justice system, rather than simply progressing a matter to a plea and penalty. At Ringwood, the ARC list runs alongside the court's general criminal and civil work, and it forms part of a statewide network of therapeutic lists that now sit at venues including Melbourne, Dandenong, Frankston, Heidelberg, Moorabbin, Sunshine, Broadmeadows, Ballarat, Bendigo, Latrobe Valley and Shepparton.
What the Ringwood ARC list is and who it helps
The ARC is a therapeutic court that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the accused person while their criminal matter moves through the system. It recognises that a proportion of people appearing before the Magistrates' Court live with conditions that reduce their capacity to manage day-to-day life, comply with orders, or engage with services without support. By combining judicial supervision with coordinated case management, the list works to reduce reoffending and to connect participants with the treatment and services they need.
To be considered for the Ringwood ARC list, an accused person must meet three connected sets of criteria. First is a diagnostic threshold: the person must have a diagnosed mental illness, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, autism spectrum condition, or a neurological impairment such as dementia. Second is a functional test: that diagnosis must cause a substantially reduced capacity in areas such as self-care, self-management, social interaction or communication. Third is a needs-and-benefit test: the person must be likely to benefit from receiving coordinated services under an individual support plan. The legislative basis for eligibility sits in Section 4T of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989.
How a referral into ARC is made
One of the strengths of the ARC model is that a referral can come from many directions. A referral into the list can be made by the accused person themselves, a family member, a community service organisation, a magistrate, Victoria Police, a lawyer, or the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP). The referral form should be submitted to the relevant Magistrates' Court before the accused person's first scheduled ARC hearing, either through the online form or as a downloadable PDF lodged with the court.
Once a referral is received, an ARC case manager assesses the person against the eligibility criteria and provides a report to the ARC magistrate. The magistrate then decides whether the matter is suitable for the list. If the person is accepted, a formal plea must be entered before an individual support plan is approved. Where a guilty plea is entered, sentencing occurs within the ARC at the end of the participant's episode, allowing the magistrate to take the person's engagement and progress into account.
The role of the individual support plan
Acceptance into the Ringwood ARC list is not the end of the process; it is the beginning of a structured period of supervision. Each participant works with a case manager on an individual support plan that sets out the goals to be achieved during the ARC episode. These goals commonly involve mental health treatment, disability support, stable housing, drug and alcohol services, and connection to community programs. Progress is monitored through regular return dates before the same magistrate, which builds consistency and accountability into the process.
Ringwood Magistrates' Court: location, hours and parking
The Ringwood court complex is centrally located in Melbourne's outer east and serves the Maroondah, Whitehorse, Manningham, Yarra Ranges and Knox communities. The building sits within walking distance of Ringwood railway station and the Eastland precinct, which makes it accessible by public transport as well as by car. For anyone attending an ARC hearing, planning your arrival in advance reduces stress on what can already be a demanding day.
- Address: 39 Ringwood Street, Ringwood, Victoria 3134
- Postal address: PO Box 333, Ringwood, Victoria 3134
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm; closed Saturday and Sunday
- Parking: A 60-bay car park sits behind the courthouse, accessed via Bourke Street, and includes designated accessible parking bays
Where a matter involves bail, eligible accused persons at Ringwood can also access support through the Court Integrated Services Program. CISP provides assessment and case management for people on bail and can help connect them with treatment and services while their matter is on foot. For anyone whose circumstances do not quite fit the ARC criteria, CISP offers a broader safety net that operates across many Victorian courts.
Where the ARC list sits within the Victorian court system
The Magistrates' Court of Victoria is the entry point for the overwhelming majority of criminal and civil matters in the state. It handles roughly nine in ten of all cases that come before the Victorian courts and operates from more than 51 venues, from metropolitan hubs like Ringwood, Dandenong and Melbourne through to regional and remote sitting locations. The scale is significant: in 2023-24 the Magistrates' Court sentenced 85,462 cases, and across the two decades to June 2024 it sentenced an average of 83,587 cases each year, with a peak of 99,723 cases in 2015-16.
Against that volume, specialist lists such as ARC allow the court to respond to a subset of matters with a tailored, health-focused approach rather than a one-size-fits-all process. This reflects a broader shift towards therapeutic jurisprudence within the Victorian system, where the aim is not only to resolve the charge but to reduce the likelihood of the person returning to court. You can compare how these divisions fit together on our Victorian court lists hub, which sets out the roles of the Magistrates' Court, County Court and Supreme Court.
How ARC differs from a standard Magistrates' Court list
A general criminal list at Ringwood moves matters through mentions, contest mentions, summary hearings and sentencing. The ARC list, by contrast, is deliberately slower and more supervised. Its measure of success is engagement and reduced reoffending, not just the disposal of a file. Participants return to the same magistrate repeatedly, which allows the court to recognise progress and respond to setbacks. For an overview of how the general criminal and civil work operates at this venue, our page on the Ringwood Magistrates' Court daily list covers the standard sitting arrangements.
Preparing for a Ringwood ARC hearing
Preparation makes a real difference to how an ARC hearing unfolds. Because the list is built around an individual support plan, magistrates and case managers will expect to see evidence of engagement with the services set out in that plan. Arriving with up-to-date information about treatment, appointments and any changes in circumstances helps the court form an accurate picture of your progress.
- Arrive well before your listed time so you can find the correct courtroom and speak with your case manager or lawyer.
- Bring any documents that show engagement with treatment, housing or support services.
- If your circumstances have changed since your last appearance, be ready to explain what has happened and why.
- If you are unsure which list your matter is on, check the daily listing or ask court staff at the counter.
- Consider obtaining legal advice before your hearing, particularly where a plea is to be entered.
Many participants find the process less daunting once they understand that the ARC magistrate is working towards the same outcome they are: stability, treatment and a reduced chance of returning to court. The list is structured to support that goal rather than to catch people out.
Related Victorian ARC and specialist lists
The Ringwood ARC list is one node in a wider network of therapeutic courts across Victoria. If your matter is being transferred, or if you are supporting someone who appears at more than one venue, it can help to understand how the neighbouring lists operate. The Melbourne ARC list serves the central business district and inner suburbs, while the Dandenong ARC list covers the south-eastern growth corridor. Each follows the same statutory framework under the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 but sits within its own local court complex and catchment.
Because the eligibility criteria, referral process and support planning are consistent statewide, information that applies at Ringwood will generally translate to other ARC venues. What differs is the local sitting days, the courtroom arrangements and the case management teams attached to each court.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ringwood ARC list?
It is the Assessment and Referral Court list at the Ringwood Magistrates' Court, a specialist pre-sentence stream for accused persons whose offending is linked to mental illness or cognitive impairment. It combines judicial supervision with coordinated case management under an individual support plan.
Who is eligible for the Assessment and Referral Court?
Eligibility depends on three tests: a qualifying diagnosis such as mental illness, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or autism; a substantial reduction in day-to-day capacity caused by that diagnosis; and a likely benefit from coordinated services. Suitability is ultimately decided by the ARC magistrate under Section 4T of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989.
How do I make a referral to the Ringwood ARC?
A referral can be made by the accused person, their family, a lawyer, Victoria Police, a magistrate, a community organisation or the CISP. The referral form is submitted to the Magistrates' Court before the first ARC hearing, and an ARC case manager then assesses eligibility.
Where is the Ringwood Magistrates' Court located?
The court is at 39 Ringwood Street, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm. A 60-bay car park with accessible bays sits behind the courthouse and is reached via Bourke Street.
How is the ARC list different from a normal court list?
A standard list focuses on progressing and finalising a charge. The ARC list is slower and more supervised, with participants returning to the same magistrate to track progress against a support plan. Its success is measured by engagement and reduced reoffending rather than simply resolving the file. For general sittings, see the Victorian Magistrates' Court listings.