Support for family members of a road crime victim through the Victims Support Scheme
The Victims Support Scheme can provide counselling for the family members of someone who died as a result of a road crime. Learn who can apply and how to apply.
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).
We understand losing a family member to a road crime is a traumatic and painful experience.
We’re here to help during this difficult time.
If you are a family member of someone who has died as a result of a road crime in NSW (a road crime victim), you can apply for counselling through the Victims Support Scheme.
What is a road crime
A road crime is an act or series of acts involving a motor vehicle, that caused the death of the road crime victim, where either:
- a person is charged with committing a crime in relation to that act, or
- charges cannot be laid because the person responsible cannot be identified, or
- charges cannot be laid because the person responsible has also died.
If the person who committed the road crime died and you are related to them, you cannot be approved for support unless you are also related to another person who died.
Counselling support for family members
Up to 22 hours of counselling is available for family members of someone who died as a result of a road crime that occurred on or after 1 February 2023. More hours may be approved if requested.
If the road crime occurred before 1 February 2023, counselling may be approved in exceptional circumstances.
Who can apply
Family victims and related family members of a road crime victim can apply for counselling.
A family victim is an immediate family member of a road crime victim, including a:
- current spouse
- current de facto partner who was living with the victim when they died and had been living with them for at least 2 years
- parent
- step-parent
- guardian
- child
- step-child
- guardian child
- siblings (brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister).
Related family members include:
- grandparents
- grandchildren
- aunts
- uncles
- cousins
- in-laws.
How long you have to apply
There is no time limit to make an application for counselling.
What you need to apply
- A completed Application for counselling for a family member of a road crime victim 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.
Government-issued identification
You need to provide a copy or image of one form of current government-issued identification with your application.
This could be a:
- birth certificate
- Centrelink card
- change of name certificate
- driver licence
- marriage certificate
- Medicare card
- MIN card (current inmates only)
- passport
- photo card
- SafeWork licence
- SafeWork white card
- screenshot of your MyGov account or another government account.
Please do not send us the original document. Please ensure the copy or image:
- is clear and not blurry
- captures all parts of the identification, including the reverse side
- has the same name on the identification document and application form. If your name is different, you must provide evidence such as a change of name certificate.
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 you’re unable to provide a copy of your government-issued identification, please contact Victims Services to discuss your options.
Documents in languages other than English
If you apply for victims support, all documents must be in English. If the original documents are not in English, you need to provide copies of the following documents:
Steps to apply for counselling
Get someone to help if you need assistance with your application
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.
Collect your identification
See above for acceptable government-issued identification documents and and what you need to provide if your documents are in a language other than English.
Complete and submit your application for support
You can apply 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
If you are a family victim or related family member, download the application form for counselling support below and follow the instructions to complete your application.
We are not able to accept supporting documents shared through links to cloud storage or file-sharing services such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
Download the Application for counselling for family members of a road crime victim form
Send your completed form and copy of your government issued identification to us by email or post.
If your application is approved
If your application for counselling is approved, we will send you information about our approved counsellors.
Approved counsellors are qualified and experienced health professionals that deliver counselling under the Victims Support Scheme.
Some people are not eligible for victims support
Some people are not eligible for support, even if they are a victim of crime.
Under section 25(3)(b) of the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013, a family member of someone who died as a result of a road crime cannot be approved for victims support if the person who died committed the road crime, unless they are also related to another person who died.
We're here to help
The Victims Support Scheme is administered by the Commissioner of Victims Rights. Victims Services, part of the Department of Communities and Justice, assists the Commissioner to administer the Scheme.
We understand that violent crime, modern slavery and road crime can affect people in different ways.
If you have any questions about victims support or making an application, Victims Services is here to help.
Contact Victims Services
Call (Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm)
- Victims Access Line on 1800 633 063
- Aboriginal Contact Line on 1800 019 123
For the National Relay Service, call 13 36 77 (TTY) or 1300 555 727 (Speak and Listen).
For interpreter support, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50.
Post
Commissioner of Victims Rights
Victims Services
Department of Communities and Justice
Locked Bag 5118
PARRAMATTA NSW 2124