Making an application for assistance through the Victims Support Scheme

You can ask a family member, friend, support worker or legal representative to help you with your application.

You can authorise someone to represent you

You can authorise someone to represent you if you want to. Your representative can communicate and exchange information with Victims Services. You can also choose for them to receive correspondence, including decisions, about your application(s).

Your authorised representative can be:

• a family member or friend
• someone from a support service
• a legal representative.

Complete the relevant section of the application form to authorise a representative.

If you have legal decision-making power for an applicant

This may be as a parent or through a guardianship or financial management order. You do not need to complete the authorisation section of the application form. Instead, attach a copy of the relevant document or order to the completed application form as evidence of your legal authority.

You can choose to send us a written request to act on behalf of the applicant. Include:

• a copy of the legal authority or order
• your date of birth
• your contact details.

You can authorise a representative after submitting your application

If you have already submitted your application, you can complete the Authorising a representative form and email or post it to Victims Services.

Visit Victims Support Scheme eligibility requirements to find out if you're eligible for victims support and to learn about the time limits to make an application. 

Government-issued identification  

All applicants need to submit a clear copy or image of their current government-issued identification.  

If the applicant is under the age of 18, a copy of the child applicant’s identification and their parent or guardian’s identification must be provided with the application form.

If the applicant has authorised a representative who is a family member or friend, a copy of the family member or friend’s identification must also be provided with the application form.

Learn more about what types of government-issued identification we accept.

If you’re unable to provide a copy of your government-issued identification, please contact Victims Services to discuss your options.

Supporting documents  

If you are applying for financial assistance or a recognition payment, you need to provide more supporting documents.  

What you need to apply will depend on your situation and the type of support you are applying for.  

Check what else you need to provide for each support type on the relevant support page.

If you’re applying for financial assistance or a recognition payment, you need to provide details of a bank account in your name or a parent, step-parent or guardian’s name if the victim is under 18 years of age.  

If you would like victims support payments to be made to an account in another name, we will need further documentation from you to accept your application. Please contact Victims Services before submitting your application.

You can apply online or by email or post. If the applicant is under 18 years of age, a parent, step-parent or guardian’s personal and contact details need to be provided in the application. If you cannot provide these details, please contact us to discuss your situation before submitting your application. The parent or guardian must also sign the declarations in the application form.