A subpoena is a legal document that orders the recipient to:
- appear in court to give evidence
And or
- produce documents or other material that they have to the court.
A subpoena can also be called a ‘witness summons’ or ‘summons’.
How to serve a subpoena
You cannot serve a subpoena by attending the office of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
Child protection documents subpoena
To serve a subpoena for child protection documents, email childprotectionsubpoenaunit@dffh.vic.gov.au.
You must do this on the day the subpoena and accompanying documentation are filed in court.
Post the conduct money and the documentation to:
The Proper Officer
Child Protection Subpoena Unit
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
GPO Box 4672
Melbourne VIC 3001
The Child Protection Subpoena Unit processes subpoenas for child protection documents. You can contact the unit by:
- Phone: 1300 703 779
- Email: childprotectionsubpoenaunit@dffh.vic.gov.au
Child protection practitioner subpoena
To summon a child protection worker to court, address the subpoena to the worker and serve it directly to them.
Housing records subpoena
Email queries to housingbusiness.operations@dffh.vic.gov.au