Recognition payment through the Victims Support Scheme

What support is available  

The Victims Support Scheme can provide a recognition payment to acknowledge that you have been the victim of a violent crime or modern slavery.  

The amount of a recognition payment is based on the type of violence you have experienced. Not all offences or acts of violence have recognition payment categories associated with them. The payment categories are:

• $15,000 for financially dependent family victims of homicide or children of the homicide victim who were under 18 at the time of the homicide victim's death.
• $7,500 for parents, step-parents or guardians, current spouses, or de facto partners of a homicide victim.
• $10,000 for primary victims of sexual assault resulting in serious bodily injury, involving multiple offenders or an offensive weapon, or a sexual assault, sexual act, or attempted sexual assault involving a series of related acts.
• $5,000 for primary victims of a sexual assault (not resulting in serious bodily injury, involving multiple offenders or involving an offensive weapon), attempted sexual assault causing serious bodily injury, assault resulting in grievous bodily harm, or physical assault of a child that involves a series of related acts.
• $1,500 for primary victims of an attempted sexual assault without serious bodily injury, sexual touching, sexual acts (if the victim was under 16 years old at the time), a robbery involving violence, or an assault which did not cause grievous bodily harm. 

Who can apply

You may be eligible for a recognition payment if you are a:

• primary victim – violent crime
• primary victim – modern slavery (in relation to acts that occurred on or after 1 January 2022)
• certain family victims of a homicide, including:
  • a parent, step-parent, guardian, current spouse or current de facto partner of a homicide victim who had lived with them for at least 2 years
  • a financially dependent family victim of homicide
  • a child of a homicide victim who was under 18 at the time of the homicide victim's death.

For more information, visit Victims Support Scheme eligibility requirements.

How long you have to apply

The time frame for applying will vary depending on your individual circumstances.

Primary victims of a violent crime and modern slavery

If you were an adult when the violent crime or modern slavery happened, you need to apply:

• within 10 years of the incident if you were a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault
• within 2 years of the incident if you were a victim of another type of violent crime or modern slavery.

If you were a child when the violent crime or modern slavery happened, you need to apply:

• at any time if you were a victim of sexual assault
• within 10 years of turning 18 years old if you were a victim of domestic violence or child abuse
• within 2 years of turning 18 years old if you were a victim of another type of violent crime or modern slavery.

Family victims of homicide

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

• within 2 years from the date the death was established as a homicide, or  
• within 2 years of turning 18 if you were a child at the time the death was established as a homicide.

Visit Support for family members of a homicide victim through the Victims Support Scheme for more information about the support available for family members of a homicide victim and how long you have to apply.

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

Family victims of homicide applying for a recognition payment need to provide a different set of supporting documents with their application. To learn more, see Support for family members of a homicide victim through the Victims Support Scheme. 

How to apply

To apply for a recognition payment, 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.   

If your application for a recognition payment is approved and you are under 18

If a recognition payment is approved while the applicant is younger than 18 years, the payment will be made to NSW Trustee and Guardian to hold the payment until the applicant turns 18 years old.

For more information about how NSW Trustee and Guardian will manage the payment, please visit the NSW Trustee and Guardian website or contact them directly. 

Some people are not eligible for victims support

Some people are not eligible for support, even if they are a victim of crime.

For more information on persons who are not eligible, see section 25 of the Victims Support Act 2013.

When support may be declined or reduced

There are also circumstances where support may be declined or the amount reduced. For more information on those circumstances, see section 44 of the Victims Support Act 2013.

Factors for consideration under section 44 include, but are not limited to:

• any behaviour on the part of the deceased which has directly or indirectly contributed to their death, including past criminal activity
• any money the applicant has received from another source in relation to the violent crime, including under an insurance policy or other agreement.