New Financial Assistance Scheme for Victims of Crime

The new Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) is now open and began to take applications on 18 November 2024.

The new scheme, which is trauma-informed and victim-centred, replaces the courts-based Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT).

It has been designed to make it easier for victims to get financial assistance and other support without them needing to go to court.

Director of Civil Justice, Lucy Adams says the Victims Legal Service can provide legal assistance to victims of crime in making applications for financial assistance through the new scheme.

‘The Victims Legal Service is a specialist statewide legal service for victims of crime, provided in partnership by Victoria Legal Aid, community legal centres and Aboriginal legal services,’ said Lucy.

‘The Victims Legal Service can help victim-survivors understand their rights and options in relation to the new Financial Assistance Scheme.’

About FAS

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

It will help with costs that can come from being a victim of crime, such as:

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

The scheme allows victims of violent crimes to make an online application for financial assistance.

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

Changes and new features of FAS

Victims of crime will now be able to receive up to $60,000. Some will be eligible for up to an additional $25,000 in certain circumstances.

• Victims of crime will be able to choose to receive a recognition statement from the state – acknowledging the effects of the crime and expressing condolences.
• FAS will give assistance individually to each family member, removing the previous practice of pooling financial assistance for families. This change is designed to reduce potential conflict between family members and allow them to apply for assistance in their own time and in accordance with their own needs.
• Application timeframes have been extended from two years to three years, or for sexual offences or family violence cases to 10 years – giving victim survivors more time to work out their needs.
• FAS will expand eligibility for family members to recognise Aboriginal kinship relations, LGBTQI+ relationships and other family members that an applicant may consider to be close family.
• The FAS has a dedicated pathway for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of violent crime. The Marra Yattakunar Pathway has specialist workers to assist people with their applications.
• Victims of crime can apply to FAS themselves or can nominate someone (such as a lawyer) to help them apply for financial assistance.

Updated guideline for FAS

We are in the process of updating the VOCAT funding guideline to reflect the FAS. We expect this to be ready early in 2025 and will provide further details in the new year.

In the meantime, the existing guideline can continue to be used.

More information

Read more about how the Victims Legal Service can assist victims of crime to get financial assistance.

Visit the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme website.

Visit Victims of Crime resources of legal professionals.