Compliance

Compliance Procedure

What is the role of the Compliance Department?

The Compliance Department perform an administrative function by facilitating the process as this relates to the formal lodgement of a complaint. The VCA Constitution, Rules & Regulations can be viewed via our website at www.dogsvictoria.org.au (Refer Tab – Members, Member Resources).

The Compliance Department is the liaison point between Complainants (those making a complaint), the Respondent (the person about whom the compliant is made) and appointed Committee representatives. Given this function, and to protect the integrity of a case, the administrative team are not in a position to engage in discussions directly relating to the “content” of a case file. In depth discussion about a case falls under the purview of the assigned committee.

The compliance team do not have decision making or investigative power. This role is accorded to the appointed Committees in the process. Committees include: Management Committee, Investigations Committee, Mediation Panel, Disciplinary Committee and Appeals Committee.

The Compliance Department provides the medium through which matters are progressed in accordance with Dogs Victoria Rules/Regulations, ensuring that all parties are afforded an opportunity to be heard.

It is important to note that Dogs Victoria does not have the power to award monetary compensation, nor does it have the power to force a member to comply. As a member based organisation, it falls within our purview to determine breach or compliance with the Code, Constitution, Rules and/or Regulations and, assuming that a case is proven, impose an appropriate penalty.

Should financial compensation be the outcome you seek, it may also be necessary to lodge a civil claim (such as with VCAT if you're in Victoria, or with the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria if you live interstate).

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that the Compliance Department is unable to engage in any communication relating to the CONTENT of a case. The reason for this is that any such dialogue may be seen to prejudice a case. The role of the Compliance Department is administrative, facilitating the progress of a case file through approved procedural channel

 

Compliance Complaints

Further information regarding our Compliance Procedure / Complaints can be found here.
(This form can be found at the bottom of the members forms page.)

To contact the Compliance Department please email compliance@dogsvictoria.org.au

VCA Procedures - Incidents or complaints at fixtures

Download the VCA Procedures - Incidents or complaints at fixtures 

For complaints lodged with the VCA Representative at a fixture, a complaint fee is payable, except as provided by the Dogs Victoria Management Committee or Regulation 3.5.9.4.1. Please refer to the VCA Scale of Charges for the current complaint fee amount. In case a complaint fee is applicable, Dogs Victoria will send an invoice to the complainant for payment. Please note that Dogs Victoria will not process the complaint until the fee is paid. If the Investigation Committee concludes that the complaint is proven, the complaint fee will be refunded to the complainant.

VCA Procedures - Dog Incidents

• Amendment to Aggressive Dog Regulations
• Dogs Victoria Dog Incident Checklist and Report
• Dog Incident - DOGS Victoria Assessment Procedure
• Dog Incident - DOGS Victoria Office Procedure

VCA Penalty Guidelines
For a list of penalty guidelines please click here  (Amended 15/08/18)

VCA Meetings

Persons involved in a meeting of the VCA, or a meeting, hearing or the like of a VCA committee are to conduct themselves Click here for more information