Other support for victims of crime

Victims Legal Service

The Victims Legal Service provides free legal advice and support to people who have suffered injury or loss because of a crime and need help to:

• get financial assistance through the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme
• get compensation from the person who committed the crime.

Find out more about the Victims Legal Service.

Victims of Crime service

The Victims Support Agency provides support services to victims through the Victims of Crime website and helpline.

The Victims of Crime Helpline is a free service offering information, advice and referrals to help victims to manage and recover from the effects of crime. Helpline staff can also contact other agencies on your behalf so you don't need to repeat your story.

The Victims Support Agency also manages:

• the Victims Assistance and Counselling Program, which provides short-term counselling, ongoing practical support, outreach services, court support, referral to specialist support groups
• the Victims Register, which allows a victim of violent crime to be advised at key points while the offender is serving a sentence in prison or (where applicable) extended supervision after completing the sentence.

Call the helpline for more information about these services.

The Victims of Crime website also has information about other services that can help and a list of publications and fact sheets to support victims of crime.

Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme

The Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme provides financial assistance to victims to help them recover from violent crimes.

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

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

Legal services

Many community legal centres can give you legal information and advice if you want to apply to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for financial assistance. Most services are free.

Help for witnesses

Victims and Witness Assistance Service is available to all victims of crime and prosecution witnesses involved in cases being handled by the Office of Public Prosecutions.

If you are a victim or a prosecution witness, an experienced social worker can assist you before, during and after the court process. The service can help to arrange a pre-court meeting between you and a lawyer or prosecutor and keep you updated on the progress of the case.

Child Witness Service offers support to victims or witnesses of crime under the age of 18 through the process of giving evidence at court. Child witnesses can give evidence through a live closed-circuit TV link to the courtroom.

Help at court

Court Network volunteers can provide support on the day of the hearing, help organising childcare and disability access, provide information about court procedures and help with arrangements to ensure your safety when you’re at court.

They also have a telephone information and referral services for victims of crime who have to attend court. Court Network staff are available in the Magistrates', County, Supreme, Family and Coroners’ courts.

Youthlaw website

Youthlaw provides detailed information about what you can do if you are a victim of a crime(opens in a new window), including useful links.

Office of Public Prosecutions (Victoria)

The Office of Public Prosecutions website has information on:

• Information for victims of crime to understand your role, and to provide support, assistance and help.
• Taking the next step(opens in a new window), a guide explaining how the courts and criminal trials work for families who have lost a loved one because of a crime.
• Supporting victims and witnesses (opens in a new window)in the criminal justice system. It lists the supports available if you are giving evidence in court.
• Witness expenses(opens in a new window) and financial assistance and compensation for victims of crime.
• Now You Are a Witness and Witness Assistance Service publications(opens in a new window).