Recognition payment

A recognition payment is intended to acknowledge that a violent crime has been committed against you. Payment is based on the offence committed. 

Who can apply?

• Primary victims
  
• Parents, step-parents and guardians of a homicide victim
  
• Current spouses, or de facto partners of a homicide victim
• Financially dependent family victims and children under 18 years at the time of death of a homicide victim.

For more information, see Eligibility criteria.

Payment categories

• $15,000 for financially dependent family victim or children under 18 at the time of death of the homicide victim.
  
• $10,000 for primary victims of sexual assault involving serious bodily injury, multiple offenders, or an offensive weapon or a sexual assault, sexual act, or attempted sexual assault involving a series of incidents.
  
• $7,500 for parents, step-parents or guardians, current spouses, or de facto partners of a homicide victim.
  
• $5,000 for primary victims of a sexual assault (one incident), attempted sexual assault with serious bodily injury, assault with grievous bodily harm, or physical assault of a child that involves a series of incidents.
  
• $1,500 for primary victims of an attempted sexual assault without serious bodily injury, sexual touching, a robbery involving violence, or an assault without grievous bodily harm.

If a recognition payment is approved for a victim while they are younger than 17 years, the payment will be made to NSW Trustee and Guardian who will hold the payment until the applicant turns 18 years old. For more information about how they will manage the payment, please visit the NSW Trustee and Guardian website.

How long do I have to apply?

• Within 2 years from the violent crime. 
  • If the violent crime resulted in the death of a victim, the 2-year time period starts from the date it was confirmed that the death resulted from the act of violence.
• For children, within 2 years of turning 18 years old. 
  
• For victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, within 10 years:
  
  • for children, within 10 years of turning 18 years old
    
  • for victims of sexual assault who were children when the incident happened there is no time limit.
    

How do I apply?

• If you are a primary victim, use the Primary Victims form.
  
• If you are an eligible family member of a homicide victim (Family Victim), use the Family Member of a Homicide Victim form.

PDF application forms are also available. 

If you need help completing your application, you can ask a support worker, friend or family member. Or contact Victims Services. 

Documents required

• A government issued ID. For example, a driver’s licence, passport, Medicare card, or card issued by Centrelink.
  
• Police or government/government-funded organisation report that provides details about what happened and shows how the violent crime has affected you. This is not required for family victims of homicide victims.
  
• Medical, dental or counselling reports that show how the violent crime has affected you. This evidence is not required for family victims of homicide victims.
  

Optional templates to support your application

• Government funded organisation report (PDF , 122.1 KB)
• Certificate of injury (PDF , 649.5 KB) (medical report).