Attorney General John Quigley has welcomed the appointment of Ms Kati Kraszlan as Western Australia’s Commissioner for Victims of Crime.
Ms Kraszlan, who has been Acting Commissioner since November 2017, was appointed to the position by the Director General of the Department of Justice and is the second person to serve in the position since it was established in 2013.
The Commissioner’s responsibility is to advocate on behalf of victims, give them a greater voice across Government and advocate for them to receive the support they need.
Her office monitors and reviews the effect of the justice system on victims of crime, with a particular focus on Police and court practices and procedures.
Ms Kraszlan’s achievements to date as Acting Commissioner include supporting reforms of family violence laws and delivering the National Redress Scheme in WA for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.
She has also played a pivotal role in the Government’s introduction of a fund for funerals of homicide victims and the development and implementation of its ‘revenge porn’ laws.
In earlier Justice roles, her successes include being part of the design and implementation of both the Drug Court and Joondalup Family Violence Court, and developing the international award-winning West Kimberley Regional Prison.
Ms Kraszlan graduated as a Master of Psychology from the University of Western Australia and is the winner of a Churchill Fellowship.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“I am very pleased that Ms Kraszlan has been appointed to this vital role in safeguarding the interests and welfare of victims of crime in Western Australia.
“Her role in the passage and implementation of the Government’s comprehensive package of family violence law reforms cannot be understated.
“She has also been the linchpin in the State Government’s participation in the National Redress Scheme, which has provided long overdue compensation and care for survivors.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner on further reforms to help ensure victims of crime are properly respected and supported.”
As stated by Director General Dr Adam Tomison:
“Ms Kraszlan has had a long and effective career at the Department of Justice, and has racked up an impressive list of achievements in her time as Acting Commissioner.
“I am sure she will continue to be an effective advocate for victims of crime in Western Australia.”
As stated by Commissioner for Victims of Crime Kati Kraszlan:
“It is a great honour to be appointed. My team has a crucial task in helping victims of crime navigate the complexity of the criminal justice system.
“My priority is to make sure that people who have suffered a traumatic experience are helped to cope with the aftermath of that event, and to obtain the support and services they need.
“Almost every victim I meet says ‘I don’t want this to happen to someone else’. While we often deal with incredibly tragic cases, in this job you also see the unbelievable good in people.”
