November 13th, 2024New scheme designed to help crime victims

Set to start next Monday, a new Victorian government scheme is designed to help victims of crime obtain financial assistance outside of court.

The new Financial Assistance Scheme is scheduled to start on Monday November 18, replacing the courts-based Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal.

Along with financial compensation, victims of crime will also be able to elect to receive a recognition statement from the state.

Application timeframes have also been extended from two years to three years, or for sexual offences or family violence cases to 10 years.

Under the former Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal, there were strict definitions around who was considered family.

The new scheme will expand eligibility to recognise Aboriginal kinship relations, LGBTQI+ relationships and other family members that an applicant may consider to be close family (a sister-in-law, for example).

“We know that when financial assistance is easy to access, victims of crime can focus on their emotional and physical recovery without the additional worry of navigating complex systems,” Financial Assistance Scheme CEO Marnie Williams said.

Minister for Victim Support Enver Erdogan said the scheme will be simple to access and straightforward.

“By making it easier to get financial assistance, we are giving victims a clear path forward, helping them to move on with their lives,” Mr Erdogan said.

Until the new scheme opens, victims can continue to make applications for financial assistance and queries through VOCAT.

Further information, including details on how to get help or make a victim impact statement, can be found on the Victims of Crime website.