Special financial assistance sorts violent acts into four categories (see the tables below). Each category has a minimum and maximum range of assistance that can be paid as special financial assistance. The FAS uses the information provided by the applicant and other evidence (such as information from Victoria Police) to identify which category the violent act falls into. If a violent act is not listed in categories A, B or C, it will automatically be in category D.
A primary victim who experienced related acts may be entitled to a higher amount of special financial assistance in recognition of the specific harm that victims of cumulative criminal acts experience. A violent act does not need to be in the same category as another violent act. The FAS will calculate the amount of special financial assistance for related acts based on the highest available category.
Children who are primary victims because they heard, witnessed or were otherwise exposed to the effects of the violent act will be eligible for special financial assistance based on the category of the violent act they heard, witnessed or were otherwise exposed to.
✅ Eligible for separate special financial assistance category Example: Vicky was a victim of sexual assault perpetrated by a family member on multiple occasions over several years up to 2019 and applied for special financial assistance, counselling, and recovery expenses. The FAS paid Vicky special financial assistance for the related acts, as well as other forms of assistance in 2025. In 2021, Vicky was a carjacking victim. Vicky applied again to the FAS for assistance for special financial assistance in relation to this violent act. The FAS decides to pay special financial assistance for the single violent act of carjacking as the 2019 sexual assaults were unrelated to the carjacking in 2021. |
Special financial assistance payments are based on the categories below:
Category A
Violent Act:
- Sexual penetration (rape)
- Attempted murder
- Murder (where a child witnessed the violent act and is injured as a result)
| Category A | Minimum eligible amount | Maximum eligible amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single violent acts | $9,334 | $20,000 |
| Related violent acts | $11,668 | $25,000 |
Category B
Violent Act:
- Attempted sexual penetration
- Sexual assault
- Sexual activity involving a child, or person with a cognitive impairment or mental illness, or the administration of an intoxicating substance
- Sexual servitude
- Non-fatal strangulation
- Armed robbery
- Aggravated burglary
- Aggravated carjacking
- Aggravated home invasion
- Home invasion
- Kidnapping
- Deprivation of liberty of a person for the purpose of:
- sexual penetration, or
- demanding any ransom for their release
| Category B | Minimum eligible amount | Maximum eligible amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single violent acts | $2,600 | $6,500 |
| Related violent acts | $3,250 | $8,125 |
Category C
Violent Act:
- An attempt to commit a category B violent act (other than an attempted sexual penetration of a person)
- A threat of death
- A threat to commit a sexual offence
- Sexual activity (other than sexual activity in relation to a child or person with a cognitive impairment or mental illness, or the administration of an intoxicating substance)
- Conduct endangering life
- Conduct inflicting serious injury
- Carjacking
- Robbery
| Category C | Minimum eligible amount | Maximum eligible amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single violent acts | $1,300 | $2,600 |
| Related violent acts | $1,625 | $3,250 |
Category D
Violent Act:
- An attempt to commit a category C violent act (other than an attempt to commit a category B violent act)
- A threat of injury
- An offence involving an intimate image
- An assault against a person
- An attempted assault
- The deprivation of the liberty of a person other than in category B
- A violent act not otherwise specified as a category A, B or C violent act
| Category D | Minimum eligible amount | Maximum eligible amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single violent acts | $260 | $1,300 |
| Related violent acts | $325 | $1,625 |
Updated