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    The Victims’ Commissioner

    Beck O'Connor

    Queensland’s first Victims’ Commissioner

    Ms Beck O’Connor is the Victims’ Commissioner for Queensland. Beck’s term is for 5 years, from Monday 29 July 2024.

    A message from Beck

    I am driven by the belief that everyone deserves a life free from violence and fear.

    I am eager to serve as Queensland’s Victims’ Commissioner, to ensure our systems and services not only meet, but anticipate the needs of victims. That we are true participants in a justice process we can trust, with support and resources we need to cope, recover and heal. This is trauma informed.

    I am committed to creating change that is clear and courageous, and promotes the rights of all individuals impacted by crime.

    Through the work of several inquiries, a spotlight has been shone on the criminal justice system’s failure to meet the needs of victims.

    As a society, we now understand that those failures are more common for women, children and young people, people with disability, older people, migrant and refugee people and the LGBTQIA+ community. We know about the disproportionate victimisation and criminalisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly women and girls. I feel strongly that better justice and safety outcomes will happen if we take time to listen and learn from each other and when we embed culture and ancient knowledge into broad social change efforts.

    The Commission is working to identify unintentional barriers within the justice and support system responses, while recognising the complexities and long-term nature of this work. We openly invite collaboration and partnership with policy makers, government agencies, service providers, community and spiritual leaders to broaden what is working well and address what is not. Importantly, while being informed by victim-survivors is critical, these are not their problems to fix.

    The word ‘victim’ is central to my role, but I want to highlight that a victim, survivor, related victim and/or witness to a crime is a person, many of whom experience incomprehensible trauma, violation and hurt. Every person has a different experience and it’s important that the individuality of someone dealing with hurt is not lost. I am committed to ensuring your voices and experiences are heard and respected.

    Warm regards,

    Beck

    Beck’s experience

    Beck’s extensive experience spans health, mental health, child protection, and social and disability support. She has a multi-sector and intersectional understanding of some of the challenges that victims of crime face.

    Before becoming Victims’ Commissioner, Beck was Chief Executive Officer for DVConnect, Queensland’s statewide domestic and family violence crisis response service, sexual assault helpline, Mens Line and forensic support service.

    During Beck’s time leading DVConnect, Beck significantly improved support for victim-survivors through:

    • strong sector leadership
    • innovation
    • integrity.

    In 2022, Beck led the implementation of VictimConnect, a 24/7 statewide support service for victims of violent crime. VictimConnect has since partnered with Victim Assist Queensland to establish the Victims of Crime Community Response (VOCCR) pilot in key regions. This pilot will be extended to include 2 more locations later throughout 2024 and 25.

    In recognition of Beck’s expertise and lived experience as a victim of crime, she was appointed Co-Chair of the Independent Ministerial Advisory Council and will remain as a permanent observer. As Co-Chair, Beck helped to elevate the voices of victim-survivors in:

    • criminal justice system reform in Queensland
    • improved victim support services
    • timely advice to government.

    Beck is a founding member of the National Lived Experience Advisory Council for the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission.

    Through Beck’s work with both the Council and the Commission, she has ensured that victim-survivors' perspectives are integral to both the Queensland and Commonwealth Government’s strategy to combat violence.

    Beck’s dedication to enhancing visibility and support for LGBTQ+ victim-survivors, led her to co-found the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, where she also served as Deputy Managing-Director.

    As Queensland’s first Victims’ Commissioner, Beck supports the recovery, justice and dignity of all people impacted by crime, through strong partnerships with community groups, government agencies and cultural leaders.