Steps to apply

1. Find out your eligibility for support

For more information, see Eligibility criteria.

2. Collect information to support your application

All applicants must complete an application form and submit it with a copy of a current government issued identification. For example, a driver’s licence, passport, Medicare card, or a card issued by Centrelink.

If you are applying for financial assistance and/or a recognition payment, you must provide details of a bank account in your name. If you would like victims support payments to be made to an account in another name, please contact the Victims Access Line before submitting your application as we will require you to provide further documentation to accept your application.

You may need to send us additional information depending on the type of support you are applying for.

For more information, see:

• Victims Support Scheme Quick Guide (PDF, 355.7 KB)
• Victims Support Scheme Detailed Guide (PDF, 201.1 KB)
• Factsheet about support for a family member of a homicide victim (Family Victim) (PDF, 81.7 KB).
• How to collect information to support your application (PDF, 72.9 KB) - find out what templates you may use to collect the information we need from you.
• Factsheet about documents required for Family Victims of a homicide victim (Family Victims) (PDF, 71.2 KB)

Optional support templates

Below are various templates you can use to support your Victims Services application.

Please also see How to collect information to support your application (PDF, 72.9 KB) for more information on using these templates.

Certificate of Injury

• Certificate of injury (PDF, 649.5 KB)

Purpose: Collect information about how the violent crime has affected you physically or psychologically and emotionally.

Who fills it out? Medical practitioner or other health practitioner.

Certificate of Earnings

• Certificate of Earnings (PDF, 99.2 KB)

Purpose: Use the Certificate of Earnings template to collect information about how you were unable to work because of the violent crime.

Who fills it out? Your employer.

Expense form and Family victims travel expenses declaration form

• Expense form (PDF, 81.0 KB) for primary victims or 
• Family members of a homicide victim (Family Victim) travel expenses declaration form (PDF, 131.1 KB)

Purpose: Primary victims can use the Expense form to claim new costs relating to the violent crime if you have already submitted an application form.

Family members of a homicide victim (Family Victim), can use the form to declare travel expenses incurred as a family victim as a direct result of the act of violence.

Who fills it out? The applicant or their representative.

Government-funded organisation report

• Government-funded organisation report (PDF, 122.1 KB)

Purpose: Collect information about the violent crime if you reported it to a government or government-funded organisation instead of the police.

Who fills it out? Government or government-funded organisation.

3. Submit your application form along with the required supporting documentation

Application forms

Fill out the relevant online application form:

• Primary victim, parent, step-parent or guardian (not domestic violence)
  
  • Primary Victims
    
• Primary victim of domestic violence 
  
  • Primary Victims and INSP Claim Form (PDF, 780.9 KB) (PDF , 277.9 KB)
    
• Secondary victim, or a victim applying for counselling only 
  
  • Counselling
    
• Family victim (family member of a homicide victim)
  
  • Family member of a Homicide Victim
    
• Funeral director or forensic cleaning service provider
  
  • Funeral expenses for a funeral director 
    
  • Forensic cleaning expenses 
    

Online application forms are compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer 11 or greater. 

PDF versions of the forms are also available.

Authorising a representative

If you have applied for victims support, you can authorise someone to represent you. This allows them to communicate and exchange information with us. You can also select for them to receive correspondence, including decisions, about your application(s).

Your authorised representative can be a legal representative, someone from a support service, a family member or friend. 

To authorise a representative, complete the Authorising a representative form (PDF, 200.8 KB) and email or mail it to us.

You do not need to complete this form if you have legal decision-making power for an applicant, such as parental responsibility, or a guardianship or financial management order. Simply attach a copy of your order to the completed application for support form or provide a copy of the order along with a written request to act on behalf of the applicant.

Support filling out your application

If you have any questions about completing your application you can ask a support worker, friend or family member for help.

You can also call the Victims Access Line (VAL) on 1800 633 063 or the Aboriginal Contact Line (ACL) on 1800 019 123 

Support workers and agencies

If you are a support workers or agency then you can assist your client to complete their Victims Services application form.

• See Supporting your client’s application for more information and templates that can be used to support a client’s application.

What happens next? 

Victim Services will assess your application soon and advise you of the outcome.

If you have further questions, please contact us.