This information is for service providers to help them assist their clients in dealing with the Financial Assistance Scheme, and find out how to receive payment.
Who can provide services covered by FAS assistance
Victims can attend their choice of service provider, provided the service provider fits any requirements set out in the FAS Guidelines.
Providing reports and supporting documents to the FAS
The FAS will only pay for medical, psychological or counselling reports where it has pre-authorised and requested the report.
The FAS may request and pre-authorise reports where:
- the evidence previously provided in the application does not satisfy the required criteria
- the information cannot be established from other sources
- the report is required to link the injury suffered to the recommended treatment
- the victim is seeking more than 20 counselling sessions
- the FAS requests that the victim arrange to have a mental health report completed.
Unlike the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT), the FAS does not require a counselling report to support a victim’s initial application unless they need more than 20 counselling sessions. During the transition period from VOCAT to FAS, if an applicant has obtained a report for a VOCAT application, the FAS may pay for these reports in some circumstances. Further information about this is available in the FAS Guidelines.
If the FAS has pre-authorised and requested a medical or mental health report, the service provider must use the medical and/or mental health report template below.
If service providers choose to provide a letter or report to a victim in support of their application, they can use their own templates or formats, or use the templates below.
Templates for letters and reports from service providers
Service providers can provide documents such as letters or reports to the victim, their lawyer or authorised representative to upload into the FAS portal.
Receiving payment for services to victims
FAS may provide funding to a victim for a service provider, or to the service provider directly. Payment may be made:
- wholly as a lump sum
- partly as a lump sum and partly by instalments, or
- wholly by instalments.
FAS may specify terms and conditions to be complied with before any instalment is paid.
Amounts awarded to a victim for expenses not yet incurred (for example, future medical expenses or counselling) are only payable on the submission of an invoice or receipt relating to that expense.
FAS requires a valid tax invoice from a service provider (e.g. a counsellor, health professional, or supplier) before it can process the payment.
The victim must provide the tax invoice and service provider details in the FAS portal for a service provider to be paid directly by FAS. Victims will receive a notification to register a service provider and provide their bank details for payment.
Payments for services authorised by VOCAT
Once the FAS commences, it will take over payment to service providers for expenses authorised by VOCAT.
For FAS to pay service providers directly for expenses authorised by VOCAT, the victim will need to register with the FAS and must provide a valid tax invoice and service provider details.
For more information, see VOCAT applications and FAS.
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