Legal audits and supporting victims of crime
These guidelines describe non-government agency roles in making a referral for a Legal Audit of a young person’s file and recommendations for an application to Victims Services.
Victims Support Scheme services
The NSW Victims Support Scheme provides supports to victims of violent crime in NSW including:
1. Information, referrals and advice – Available to anyone who requires information and support around dealing with the impacts of violent crime
2. Counselling - Available to primary and secondary victims of violent crime and immediate and relevant family members of homicide victims
3. Financial assistance for immediate needs – Available to primary victims of violent crime and immediate family members of homicide victims
4. Financial assistance for economic loss – Available to primary victims of violent crime and immediate family members of homicide victims
5. Recognition payment – Available to primary victims financially dependent family victims and children under 18 years at the time of death
To be eligible for financial assistance and/or recognition payment, clients must establish they were a primary victim of an act that occurred in the course of the commission of an offence which has involved violent conduct and has resulted in injury (physical or psychological) or death. Various timeframes apply. Further information is available in the Victims Support Scheme - Detailed guide.
Who can apply
People who can obtain victims support are described as different types of victims and have access to different levels and amounts of support.
Victims support is available to the following:
A primary victim of an act of violence
- Who is a person who is injured or dies as a direct result of the act of violence, OR:
- trying to prevent another person from committing that act, OR
- trying to help or rescue another person against whom the act is being committed or has just been committed, OR
- Trying to arrest a person who is committing, or has just committed, that act.
A family victim of an act of violence
- A member of the immediate family of a primary homicide victim (A relevant family member of a primary victim of homicide can also apply for counselling)
A secondary victim of an act of violence
- A person injured as a direct result of witnessing the act of violence against a primary victim, OR
- A parent or guardian of a child primary victim who is injured as a direct result of becoming aware of an act of violence committed against their child.