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Financial assistance and compensation

Victims of crime may be able to get financial assistance from the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme, or compensation from the person who committed the crime.

On this page

If you are a victim of crime, you may be able to:

Getting financial assistance

If you are a victim of crime, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme to help you recover from the effects of the crime.

Who can apply

You can apply for the scheme if you are injured by a violent crime in Victoria. This can be a mental or physical injury, or both. This also includes trauma.

You must report the crime to the police (unless you have special circumstances for not reporting to police). The offender does not need to be charged or convicted of the crime.

Adults must apply within:

  • 10 years from sexual offence or family violence
  • 3 years from other violent crimes.

There is no time limit for children if the violent crime involves family violence or child abuse. For all other crimes, a child must apply before turning 21.

In some circumstances, the new scheme may be able to accept late applications.

Type of victim

Primary victims

You are a primary victim if:

  • the crime was committed against you
  • or you are a child who saw, heard or were exposed to the crime
  • or you were injured trying to:
    • rescue another victim
    • stop a violent crime
    • arrest someone who committed a violent crime.

Read more about assistance for primary victims.

Secondary victims

You are a secondary victim if:

  • you witnessed the crime
  • or you are injured because you are the parent or guardian of a child who was the victim of a violent crime.

Read more about assistance for secondary victims.

You are a related victim if:

  • you are a close family member of a loved one who passed away because of a violent crime
  • or you are a dependant of a loved one who passed away because of a violent crime
  • or you were in an intimate personal relationship with a loved one who passed away because of a violent crime.

Read more about assistance for related victims.

What assistance is available

FAS will provide financial assistance to victims to help them recover from violent crimes.

It will help with reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of being a victim of a violent crime, such as:

  • counselling
  • medical expenses
  • loss of earnings
  • other expenses that would help a victim recover.

Every person’s situation is different. The amount the Financial Assistance Scheme can pay and the types of things it will pay for will depend on the:

  • type of victim you are — primary, secondary or related victim
  • crime committed against you
  • injuries you suffered.

Victim recognition

Victims of crime who receive financial assistance from the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will be entitled to receive a recognition statement on behalf of the state of Victoria, acknowledging the effects of the violent act and expressing the state’s condolences.

You can ask the FAS for a victim recognition statement after you receive your final decision.

Read more about victim recognition.

How to apply

You can make an online application for financial assistance on the FAS website.

You can do this without needing to attend court or face others involved in the violent crime.

You can also nominate someone (such as a lawyer) to help you apply for financial assistance through FAS.

Compensation through the courts

If you are a victim of crime, you can get a court order for compensation if the person is found guilty of the offence . You must apply within 12 months of the court’s decision.

You can apply to the sentencing judge or magistrate to get compensation for any pain and suffering you have experienced because of the crime. Discuss the details of your claim with a lawyer as early as possible.

If the court makes an order for compensation, the offender must pay it. If the offender does not own anything they could use to compensate you, it may be difficult to get any payment. The court will consider the offender’s financial situation when making any order.

The Victims of Crime website has more on how to get compensation from the offender.

Sue for damages

You may also be able to make a civil claim against the offender to get compensation for the injury you have suffered. This will depend on whether the offender has any assets (money or other things they own). The offender does not have to have been convicted or found guilty in a criminal court for this to happen. You can include the loss, destruction or damage of your property in your claim. Get other support for victims of crime.

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