Financial assistance for economic loss through the Victims Support Scheme

What support is available  

The Victims Support Scheme provides financial assistance for economic loss to help cover expenses resulting from a violent crime or modern slavery.

This can include financial assistance for:

• actual loss of earnings due to time off work, up to $20,000
• out-of-pocket expenses if you did not incur actual loss of earnings, up to $5,000
• doctor, dentist or other medical bills, up to $30,000
• loss or damage to the clothes you wore or items you were carrying when the act of violence happened, up to $1,500
• costs of attending court or coronial proceedings, or other justice-related expenses, up to $5,000.

The amount of financial assistance you are approved for will depend on your individual circumstances. 

Who can apply

Eligibility up to $30,000

You can apply to get financial assistance for economic loss up to $30,000 if you are a:

• primary victim - violent crime
• primary victim - modern slavery (in relation to acts that occurred on or after 1 January 2022)
• parent, step-parent or guardian of a primary victim who was under 18 when the incident happened.

Eligibility up to $5,000

Family victims of homicide can apply to get up to $5,000 to help pay for:

• the costs of attending court or coronial proceedings
• other justice-related expenses.

For more information, visit Victims Support Scheme eligibility requirements.

How long you have to apply

The time limit to apply will vary depending on your individual circumstances.

Primary victims of a violent crime or modern slavery and parents, step-parents and guardians of a child primary victim

If the victim was an adult when the incident happened, you need to apply within 2 years of the incident.

If the victim was a child when the incident happened, you need to apply within 2 years of turning 18 years old.

If the victim was a victim of a sexual assault as a child, there is no time limit to claim out-of-pocket and justice-related expenses. You can claim actual loss of earnings, medical and dental bills, and loss or damage to personal items within 2 years of turning 18 years old.

Family victims of homicide

If you are a family victim of homicide, you need to apply:

• within 2 years from the date the death was established as a homicide
• within 2 years of turning 18 if the family victim was a child at the time.

If you are a family victim of homicide, visit Support for family members of a homicide victim through the Victims Support Scheme for more information about application time frames.

What you need to apply

You need to provide supporting documents with your completed application form.

The supporting documents are different for primary victims and family victims.

If you are providing documents in a language other than English, you need to provide a copy of the original document along with a certified translation. To learn more, visit Supporting documents for Victims Support Scheme applications. 

What you need to apply if you are a primary victim

If you are a primary victim, you need to provide the following information and supporting documents with your completed application form:

• a clear copy or image of your current government-issued identification, as well as a copy of your parent or guardian’s identification if you’re under 18
• your bank account details or your parent, step-parent or guardian’s bank account details if you are under 18 years old
• a report that explains what happened
• medical, dental or counselling report(s) that shows how the incident has affected you
• copies of itemised tax invoices, receipts or treatment plans for the costs you are claiming and a description of how the costs are related to the crime
• evidence of money received from other sources related to the act of violence or modern slavery
• information about your loss of earnings, if applicable.

Learn more about providing this information and the supporting documents below. 

What you need to apply if you are a family victim of homicide

Family victims of homicide seeking financial assistance to cover some of the costs of attending court or coronial proceedings, or other justice-related expenses, need to provide a different set of supporting documents with their completed form. To learn more, see Support for family members of a homicide victim through the Victims Support Scheme.

How to apply

To apply for financial assistance, including claims for loss of earnings, visit Making an application for assistance through the Victims Support Scheme and follow the instructions to submit the relevant application with your supporting documents.

What happens next

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email or letter from Victims Services. We will assess your application based on the information you have provided and notify you of the outcome. If we need more information or documents, we will contact you.

Making claims for more expenses

You can submit claims for further costs you incur because of the violent crime or modern slavery:

• for a period of 5 years after you lodge your financial assistance application, or  
• until the available funds are used. 

If you are a family victim of homicide, visit Support for family members of a homicide victim through the Victims Support Scheme for more information about claiming more costs and travel expenses

If you are a primary victim and the expenses directly relate to the act of violence or act of modern slavery described in your initial application form, you do not need to submit a new application for support. You can either:

• download the Claim for expenses form and attach the supporting documents required in the form and send to Victims Services, or
• send Victims Services an email or letter with the following information and supporting documents:
  • your name
  • Victims Services application reference number
  • a list of the new expenses
  • a description of how each cost was incurred as a direct result of the violent crime or modern slavery
  • copies of itemised tax invoices, receipts or any other proof of expenditure
  • evidence of any Medicare or private health insurance rebates relating to the expenses you are claiming.

If you want to make a claim for costs related to a new act of violence or act of modern slavery, you will need to complete a new application for support to apply for financial assistance.