Get help in your language for the Financial Assistance Scheme

Financial Assistance Scheme

The Financial Assistance Scheme can provide help to victims of violent crime. You can get help to pay for costs such as:

• counselling
• medical costs
• loss of income
• other support that will help you recover.

You can call the Financial Assistance Scheme Helpline to:

• get help with applying for financial assistance
• get advice on the documents and evidence you will need, and
• discuss application results.

If you need an interpreter, you can ask someone to call the Helpline for you and ask for one.

You can call the Helpline on 1800 161 136.

The Helpline is open 8:30am-5:30pm Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Eligibility

You can apply to the scheme if you are injured by a violent crime in Victoria. This can be a physical or mental injury or trauma.

You must report the crime to the police (unless you have special circumstances for not reporting to police). The offender does not need to be charged or convicted.

Depending on what happened, you might be classified as a primary, secondary, or related victim.

You are a primary victim if:

• the crime was committed against you
• you are a child who saw, heard or were exposed to the crime, or
• you were injured trying to rescue another victim, stop the violent crime or arrest the person who committed the crime.

You are a secondary victim if:

• you witnessed the crime, or
• you are injured because you are the parent of a child who was the victim of a crime.

You are a related victim if:

• you are a close family member someone who died because of a violent crime
• you are a dependant of a loved one who died because of a violent crime, or
• you were in an intimate personal relationship with a loved one who died because of a violent crime.

Examples of crimes that are covered by financial assistance

• homicide
• assault
• rape
• threats to kill
• robbery
• recklessly causing injury
• culpable driving
• sexual offences
• image-based sexual offences
• stalking
• kidnapping
• home invasion

Other types of crime may be eligible for financial assistance but not listed here.

The scheme does not cover:

• property damage offences
• breaches of intervention orders unless it involves violence.

What you might receive

Every person's situation is different. The amount we can pay and the types of things we pay for will depend on:

1. the type of victim you are – primary, secondary or related victim
2. the crime committed against you
3. the injuries you suffered.

A primary victim can get up to $60,000 (which can increase annually for indexation) and any special payment.

You may be eligible for a special payment of up to $25,000 in recognition of the harm you have suffered. This payment depends on the type of violent crime and your injuries.

Secondary and related victims can get up to $50,000 (which can increase annually for indexation).

Services covered

All victims can apply for:

• counselling sessions from a registered psychologist, a registered counsellor, or an accredited mental health social worker
• reasonable medical expenses, and
• other expenses to help your recovery in exceptional circumstances.

Primary victims can also apply for:

• loss of income for up to 2 years after the violent act, up to $20,000
• clothing damaged or lost because of the crime (watches and jewellery are not covered), and
• safety items needed to ensure your immediate safety such as security alarms and cameras, mobile phones, and relocation costs.

Secondary victims can also apply for:

• loss of income in exceptional circumstances.

Related victims can also apply for:

• money they would have received from their loved one within 2 years of their loved one’s death, and
• other expenses because of the death of their loved one.

Some of this assistance can be paid immediately, while you wait for us to assess your application.

This comes out of your total payment and can be up to:

• $5,000 for medical and safety expenses
• $19,627 for funeral expenses
• 5 sessions of counselling.

Funeral costs

Anyone who has paid for the funeral of someone who died because of a violent crime can apply to cover the costs of the funeral.

Funeral expenses do not count towards the maximum amount available to primary, secondary, or related victims.

Making an application

You can apply online.

If you need help with your application, you can ask a lawyer, case worker or other trusted person. You will need to fill out a form so they can act as your authorised representative.

There are also time limits to making an application.

Adults must apply within:

• 10 years from a sexual or family violence offence, or
• 3 years from other violent crimes.

There is no time limit for children if the violent crime involves family violence or child abuse. For all other crimes, a child must apply within 3 years of turning 18.

In some circumstances, the scheme may be able to accept late applications.

What happens after the scheme makes a decision?

You will receive a written notice of decision following assessment of your application.

If you do not agree with a decision, you can apply for an internal review. This must be done within 28 days of the decision.

After you receive the outcome of your application, you may want to change to your financial assistance, this known as a variation. This might be because your circumstances have changed, or you need support in a different way.

Victims of crime who receive financial assistance from the scheme can also choose to receive a recognition statement on behalf of the state of Victoria, acknowledging the effects of the crime and expressing the state’s condolences.

Victims of Crime Helpline

This free helpline is open every day between 8am–11pm. When you call you can:

• get advice about reporting a crime
• find other services that can help you
• get information about the court process.

If you need an interpreter, you can ask someone to call the Victims of Crime Helpline for you and ask for one.

Call: 1800 819 817