Most people have little to do with our court system. When they do, the complexities and rituals can be disorienting - even intimidating.
Five decades ago Carmel Benjamin realised how disadvantaged many people were when they entered the halls of justice without an understanding of how the process works - and decided to do something about it.
Ms Benjamin's amazing body of work over 50 years was recognised recently with the Premier's Volunteer of the Year, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Award - something that left her "delighted and dumbstruck".
She was honoured for her work as a victim counsellor, official prison visitor, board member, ambassador and consultant on ministerial advisory committees.
Forty years ago, Ms Benjamin established Court Network, a volunteer-based organisation devoted to the welfare of court users at Prahran Courthouse. Today it operates at 36 courts in Victoria and Queensland, has more than 500 volunteers and helps about 190,000 people a year.
"When my kids started school, I wanted to be involved in something useful. I joined the Prisoners' Aid Society and realised there were gaps in the justice system," she said.
"Back in the 1970s legal aid was not freely available and when people fronted court they had very little experience or resources to draw on.
"Courts are adversarial - having someone explain the procedures and what different people do gives them more power and control."
Court Network volunteers are carefully selected and trained. The work does not suit everyone.
"Our court networkers offer services on an outreach model - the community is generally unaware that this service exists. So when we see people standing by themselves before a court session, we make the approach to see if they need our help.
"It is so important that people are able to talk to others who don't judge them. It can be an extraordinarily confronting experience.
"We are dealing with a very humane aspect of community service - meeting people at the coalface of their trauma. This is about members of the community caring for one another like we used to when we all lived in villages."
Ms Benjamin has also established other important initiatives, such as the woman2woman program, now called the VACRO Women's Mentoring Program, which helps women transitioning from prison into the community.
She said her work has been deeply fulfilling. "I sort of morphed into it - I just wanted to keep doing things that are important. It makes life worthwhile, and if you're fortunate enough to have good health, age shouldn't make any difference."
Ms Benjamin was among 41 individuals and two community groups honoured at the Premier's Volunteer Champions Awards.
- Read more: Mercy law changes amid Lawyer X probe
- Read more: Fund for families of tradies killed on job