Specialist Victims Register
The Specialist Victims Register keeps victims informed about changes to a forensic patient's status. Learn more and apply to be on the Register.
Victims Services maintains the Specialist Victims Register (the Register) for victims of forensic patients.
Victims can apply to be on the Register to receive information on certain changes about a forensic patient and their reviews before the Mental Health Review Tribunal (the Tribunal).
Who can apply to be on the Register
You can apply to be added to the Register if you are a primary victim or a family victim of a violent crime committed by someone who has either been:
- found ‘act proven but not criminally responsible’ for an offence, or
- found ‘unfit not acquitted’ and given a limiting term at a special hearing.
A primary victim is a person who was injured as a direct result of:
- a violent crime
- trying to prevent a violent crime
- trying to help or rescue a victim of a violent crime
- trying to arrest someone who was committing a violent crime.
A family victim is an immediate family member of a homicide victim, including a:
- spouse
- current de-facto partner who has lived with the victim for at least 2 years
- parent, step-parent or guardian
- child, step-child or guardian child
- brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister.
What information you can get if you are on the Register
If you are registered on the Specialist Victims Register, you can choose to be told if:
- the forensic patient has been listed for a forensic review hearing by the Tribunal, including:
- dates, times and locations of the review hearing
- orders that the forensic patient, legal representative or treating team is seeking
- an application for leave or release is made by or for the forensic patient
- the Tribunal makes an order or refuses to make an order granting leave or release to the forensic patient and reasons for their decision
- the forensic patient appeals against the Tribunal’s decision
- there are any known safety concerns related to you
- the forensic patient escapes or absconds
- the forensic patient becomes an involuntary patient
- an application is made for an extension order or interim extension order
- the forensic patient is no longer a forensic patient.
Other support you can get if you are on the Register
The Specialist Victims Support Service will also:
- help with communication between a registered victim and the Mental Health Review Tribunal
- assist a registered victim to prepare information to present to the Tribunal
- attend hearings with or on behalf of a registered victim
- assist registered victims to apply for orders that restrict where the forensic patient can go or from communicating with certain people.
If you need counselling, financial assistance or a recognition payment through the Victim Support Scheme, please visit the Victims Support Scheme page.
How to apply to be on the Register
Complete the registration form:
You need to provide a clear copy or image of your current government-issued identification with your application, such as a driver licence or passport.
There is no time limit to apply to go on the register.
Nominating a representative
If you are a registered victim, you can nominate someone to act on your behalf and receive correspondence.
To nominate a representative, complete the online form, or download and complete the PDF form and send it to the Specialist Victims Support Service by email or post:
Changing the information you receive
If you would like to stay on the Register but do not want to receive notifications about Tribunal hearings or the forensic patient, you can email or write to the Specialist Victims Support Service to update your notification preferences.
Requesting removal from the Register
You can request to be removed from the Register at any time by emailing or writing to the Specialist Victims Support Service. Requests must be made in writing and sent to the Specialist Victims Support Service by email or post.
You will also be removed from the Register when the forensic patient is no longer a forensic patient.
How to make a submission to the Tribunal
Registered victims can make a submission to the Mental Health Review Tribunal by completing the Victims Submissions form. You can do this:
- when the Tribunal is considering the possible release or granting of leave to the forensic patient, or
- at any later review hearing where leave is a feature of the proposed order.
If you would like a representative other than SVSS to attend a Mental Health Review Tribunal hearing to represent you, they must complete a Statutory Declaration. Before the hearing, they must send the completed declaration by email or post to:
- the Specialist Victims Support Service, or
- directly to the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
Specialist Victims Support Service contact details
Call
Phone: 1800 633 063 (option 4)
Post
Specialist Victims Support Service
Victims Services
Department of Communities and Justice
Locked Bag 5118
Parramatta NSW 2124