Apply for victim financial help

You can apply for financial help if you have been affected by a violent crime.

Who it is for

Financial assistance may be available if you are a:

• victim, known as a primary victim
• injured from witnessing, or becoming aware of a violent act, known as a secondary victim
• family member of a victim who died, known as a family victim.

Counselling is offered to all victims, including anyone who shared a close relationship with a primary victim, this is known as a related victim.

What you can get

The amount you can get depends on how the violence has affected you.

You can only make a single claim related to the same violent act.

What you need to do

To support your application, you should:

• report the crime to the police within a reasonable time
• cooperate with investigations
• provide enough evidence to support your claim such as:
  • medical reports
  • receipts
  • quotes.

Primary victim

You are the primary victim of a violent crime if you were:

• injured by violence, including domestic violence
• sexually assaulted
• injured while trying to stop another person from committing violence
• injured trying to help or rescue another person from violence, outside of your job.

You can claim up to $40,000. This includes up to $10,000 for financial loss as part of the total amount.

How to apply

Fill in the form.

Primary victim financial assistance application PDF (505.3 KB)
Primary victim financial assistance application DOCX (125.3 KB)

Secondary victim

You could be a secondary victim if you:

• witnessed a violent act and you suffered an injury as a result of witnessing the act
• were a child when a violent crime occurred against your parent, step-parent or guardian
• were a parent, step-parent or guardian when a violent crime occurred against your child.

You can claim up to $40,000. This includes up to $10,000 for financial loss as part of the total amount.

If there is more than one secondary victim for the same violent act, the money is shared.

How to apply

Fill in the form.

Secondary victim financial assistance application PDF (508.2 KB)
Secondary victim financial assistance application DOCX (123.9 KB)

Family victim

You could be a family victim if you incurred financial loss and were:

• financially dependant on a person who died due to the violence or
• related to the person who died in any of the following ways:
  • spouse or de facto partner
  • parent, step-parent or guardian
  • child, stepchild or under guardianship.

You can claim up to $10,000 for financial loss for out-of-pocket expenses.

If there is more than one family victim for the same violent act, the money is shared.

How to apply

Fill in the form.

Family victim financial assistance application PDF (497.5 KB)
Family victim financial assistance application DOCX (120.8 KB)

Interim financial help

You can apply for help if you are experiencing financial hardship.

You can claim up to $5,000.

This is for:

• loss of earnings or wages
• loss or damage to clothing and other belongings
• expenses for medical treatment of injuries
• in rare cases, the cost of relocating or securing your home or business
• circumstances where the victim died and you were financially dependent on them.

How to apply

Fill in the form.

Interim financial assistance application PDF (516.4 KB)
Interim financial assistance application DOCX (128.0 KB)

Funeral expenses

You can apply for help if you have incurred, or are going to incur, the costs of a funeral of a primary victim of a violent act.

You can claim up to $15,000.

How to apply

Fill in the form.

Funeral expenses application PDF (479.9 KB)
Funeral expenses application DOCX (119.2 KB)

Contact

Crime Victims Services Unit