Making an application for assistance through the Victims Support Scheme

Understand how to apply for the Victims Support Scheme. Follow the steps to submit your application online or by email or post.

Listen

Victims Services is here to help. Call the Victims Access Line 1800 633 063 or Aboriginal Contact Line 1800 019 123 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, excluding public holidays).

Steps to apply for victims support

Before you start

If you're applying for support as a family member of someone who died as a result of a homicide or road crime, visit the relevant page to learn about the support available, how to apply, any time limits that may apply and access the application forms:

For all other victims of crime or modern slavery, continue with the application steps below.

Get someone to help if you need assistance

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.

Check you are eligible

The Victims Support Scheme offers different types of support depending on your situation. Review the support options below to understand who can apply and the time limits that may apply.

Victims support is available for:

primary victims
- a person who was injured or who dies as a direct result of:
  - a violent crime or modern slavery
  - trying to prevent a violent crime or modern slavery
  - trying to help or rescue a victim of a violent crime or modern slavery
  - trying to arrest someone who was committing a violent crime or modern slavery against someone else.
secondary victims
- a person who was injured as a direct result of witnessing a violent crime
- a parent, step-parent or guardian who has been injured as a direct result of learning that their child (under the age of 18) was injured by a violent crime.

Use the links in the table to learn more about each type of support.

Type of support	Who can apply	How long you have to apply
Counselling	Primary victims. Secondary victims. Parents, step-parents and guardians of a primary victim who was under 18 when the incident happened.	No time limit.
Financial assistance for immediate needs	Primary victims.	Within 2 years from the violent crime or modern slavery, or within 2 years of turning 18 if the victim was a child at the time of the incident.
Financial assistance for economic loss	Primary victims. Parents, step-parents and guardians of a primary victim who was under 18 when the incident happened.	Within 2 years from the violent crime or modern slavery, or within 2 years of turning 18 if the victim was a child at the time of the incident. For victims of sexual assault who were children when the incident happened, there is no time limit for claiming out-of-pocket and justice-related expenses.
Recognition payment	Primary victims.	Within 2 years of the violent crime or modern slavery or within 2 years of turning 18 if the victim was a child at the time of the incident. Within 10 years of the incident for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse, or within 10 years of turning 18 if the victim was a child at the time of the incident (with the below exception for child sexual assault). For a victim of sexual assault who was a child under 18 years of age at the time of the incident, there is no time limit to apply.

The table provides a summary only. For detailed eligibility information, visit the Victims Support Scheme eligibility requirements.

Collect your identification and supporting documents

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

Before you apply, gather the documents you may need to support your application. Requirements vary depending on the type of support you're applying for.

The table below provides a summary of the documents commonly required.

Type of support	What documents do I need to apply?
Counselling	Application form and current government-issued identification.
Financial assistance for immediate needs	Application form and current government-issued identification. A report that explains what happened and how the incident affected you. This can be one of the following: a police report* a report from a government or government-funded organisation that provides support to victims of crime a medical, dental or counselling report. Copies of itemised tax invoices, receipts or treatment plans and a description of how the costs are related to the incident. Primary victims of domestic violence may not be required to provide evidence of their expenditure as they may be eligible to receive the Immediate Needs Support Package
Financial assistance for economic loss	Application form and current government-issued identification. A report that explains what happened. This can be one of the following: a police report* a report from a government or government-funded organisation that provides support to victims of crime. Medical, dental or counselling report(s) that show how the incident affected you. Copies of itemised tax invoices, receipts or treatment plans and a description of how the costs are related to the crime. Information about your earnings (if claiming lost income)^.
Recognition payment	Application form and current government-issued identification. A report that explains what happened. This can be one of the following: a police report* a report from a government or government-funded organisation that provides support to victims of crime. Medical, dental or counselling report(s) that show how the incident affected you.

* If the incident was reported to NSW police, you do not need to send us a police report. You can provide information about your report to NSW police in the application form.

^ If you are applying for financial assistance for loss of earnings, we will need details about your employment and the time you were unable to work because of the incident, as well as other information and documents to support your claim.

The table provides a summary only. Follow the links in the table to learn more about a specific support type, or visit the Victims Support Scheme to view all support types.

Have your bank account details ready for financial assistance or recognition payment applications

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.

Complete and submit your application for support

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.

Apply now

Apply online

If you are applying online, you can upload your supporting documents with your online application.

It will take approximately 20 – 30 minutes to complete the application form. If you are not ready to submit your application form, you can save a draft and complete it later.

Our online forms are compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari. For the best experience, we recommend updating your browser to the latest version and making sure your mobile phone has the latest software update installed.

Application for support online form

Use this online form if you are:

a primary victim of a violent crime or modern slavery applying for:
- counselling
- financial assistance
- a recognition payment.
a secondary victim applying for counselling
a parent, step-parent or guardian of a child primary victim applying for counselling and/or financial assistance.

Application for support

Apply by email or post

If you are unable to apply online, you can download a PDF application form and send the completed form and supporting documents to us by email or post.

Application for support form

Use this form if you are:

a primary victim of a violent crime or modern slavery applying for:
- counselling
- financial assistance
- a recognition payment.
a secondary victim applying for counselling.
a parent, step-parent or guardian of a child primary victim applying for counselling and/or financial assistance.

Download the Application for support form.

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.