New scheme provides financial support to victims of violence
From 1 July, new legislation will come into effect enabling more victims of violence, including domestic violence, to be eligible to receive financial support.
In March of this year, the ACT Legislative Assembly passed the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 2016.
Under this Act, the Victims of Crime Commissioner will replace the Government Solicitor’s Office as the decision maker on financial assistance applications. As a result, the allocation of payment will no longer be a court based scheme.
The proposed new model will make financial assistance available to a greater range of victims of violence; as well as being a more user-friendly process.
Eligibility for payment will be based on the act of violence being reported to police.
The new scheme will include three types of payments:
- Immediate needs payments for urgent expenses preventing further harm and limiting further threats to the safety of a person, capped at $10 000.
- Economic loss payments for expenses arising directly as a result of the crime, capped at $50 000.
- Recognition payments which are a lump sum payment made to recognise and acknowledge the trauma and harm suffered by a victim of crime, capped at $26 250.
The ACT Government’s support to victims of violence is now one of the most generous in the country. The new amounts for recognition payments are significantly higher than similar payments in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
The aim of these payments is to assist victims to recover from acts of violence, contribute to the safety of victims of crime, prevent future acts of violence, acknowledge the harmful effects of acts of violence and to complement other services provided for victims of crime.
Besides ‘primary’ victims, financial assistance may also be available to homicide witnesses and related victims. There is also scope within the scheme to provide money for the funeral of a primary victim of homicide.
Victims of Crime Team Leader Joanne Warden said that the broadening of the definition of those eligible to receive payment will have a real benefit for Canberra’s victims of violence.
“Opening up the scheme to more victims of violence, including domestic violence, is a really positive step for the ACT.”
“The crime itself is damaging enough to the victim, however the additional stress of financial issues as a result of the experience can often increase the suffering for the person,” Sergeant Warden said.
For further information on the scheme contact Victims Support ACT on 1800 822 272 or (02) 6205 2066.
To be eligible for the scheme:
- The offence must have occurred in the ACT
- The victim must have an injury as a result of the offence; this can include a physical injury or a mental disorder or mental illness.
- The victim must apply within three years or if the applicant was under 18 at the time of the offence within three years of their 18th birthday.
Visit the ACT Policing website for more information on victims of crime.