For service providers and referrers
Referral form
The VSACT referral form Word(65KB) can be used to refer someone who has experienced crime in the ACT. Support that we can provide includes:
- Counselling with an external provider
- Assistance to apply for victims of crime financial assistance
- Information and advocacy in relation to the criminal justice system
- Court support
- Assistance to complete Financial Assistance Scheme applications and victim impact statements
- Culturally appropriate support from an Aboriginal liaison officer or multicultural liaison officer
More information about our services can be found here.
Assisting someone to apply for financial assistance
We are currently preparing a guide on how to prepare application for victims of crime financial assistance.
If you are assisting someone to make an application and have not been able to get the information you need on the financial assistance section of this website, we welcome you to contact us with any questions.
The following sections outline the internal and external review processes applying to financial assistance applications.
Internal review process
An internal review must be requested within 28 days.
An internal review is a process conducted by another officer, appointed by the Commissioner, within the agency. The internal review officer is required to reconsider an application and the decision that was made. The internal reviewer can either confirm (agree with), vary (change some of) or set aside (change all of) the original decision.
To request an internal review - complete the form (pdf 27kb) or write to fasvsact@act.gov.au and include:
- Applicant name
- Application number
- Brief details about the decision that the applicant is unhappy with
- The reasons the applicant believes the decision should be reviewed.
The internal reviewer has 30 days from receiving the review form to respond with written notice of the internal review decision.
There are no fees payable for an internal review.
External Review Process
Decisions can be externally reviewed by ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). This process is called a Review of an Administrative Decision by the ACAT.
Information about the review of a decision process and the application for a review of decision can be found on the ACAT website.
There are several situations where an applicant can seek an external review including:
- If the applicant is unhappy with the decision from an internal review.
- A VSACT internal review decision was not made within 30 days.
- If an application for financial assistance is refused.
- If an applicant does not agree with a notice to repay financial assistance.
ACAT reconsiders all aspects of the original decision.
The time limit for applying for external review is 28 days from the date of the decision. Or, if an applicant has not received an internal review decision after 30 days, then they have 28 days to lodge a request for external review.
ACAT can extend the time to apply for a maximum of 56 days – there must be reasonable grounds to do this. The extension of time section of the application for review form must be completed for ACAT to consider.
The time taken by the ACAT to complete an external review varies depending on the particular circumstances of each application.
The ACAT do have fees associated with applications and conditions to accept a waiver of fees.
Working with us an approved provider
Delivered by VSACT, the Victim Services Scheme (VSS) provides services to people who have experienced crime in the ACT with the aim of assisting them to recover from the effects of crime and access their rights as victims.
Approved service providers are contracted to provide services to VSS clients in the form of contact hours. Providers are required to keep track of hours used and provide regular updates to VSACT in relation to a client’s goals and recovery.
The VSS is governed by the Victims of Crime Act 1994, and the Victims of Crime Regulation 2000.
VSACT seeks to sign on professionals interested in supporting the recovery of victims. Providers must have a minimum of three years’ experience in their profession and be able demonstrate an applied understanding of working with complex trauma. Professions we can approve include:
- psychologists
- social workers
- counsellors
- occupational therapists (coming soon)
- massage therapists
- mental health workers (coming soon)
The hourly rates for the VSS are set by ACT Government and can be found in this legislative instrument. In 2022-23 the hourly rate is $170 for counsellors, social workers and psychologists. The 2022-23 hourly rate for massage therapy is $113.
To apply to become an approved provider, please read the Approved Provider guidelines and then contact VSACT (VictimSupportIntake@act.gov.au) to ask for an application pack.
Family Violence Safety Action Program
The family violence safety action program (FVSAP) is overseen by the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner and the Coordinator-General for Family Safety. The FVSAP is an expansion of the ACT family violence intervention program’s case tracking process.
The FVSAP’s collaborative approach supports the safety of adult and child family violence victim-survivors who are at serious risk of harm. It does this by:
- enabling ACT Government, community, and justice agencies to implement an integrated risk assessment and response model that collaboratively identifies, assesses and responds to high-risk family violence cases
- providing a forum for the sharing of information that increases the visibility and accountability of family violence perpetrators
- developing coordinated safety action plans that are targeted, time-specific and aim to reduce threats to a person’s safety, including any opportunities to intervene or engage with the person using violence
- improving understanding across government and non-government agencies of the dynamics of family violence, victim-survivor safety and perpetrator accountability.
FVSAP is built on a foundation of listening to, and walking alongside, victim survivors, amplifying their voices and experiences to inform service system responses.
FVSAP delivers short-term, family violence-informed case coordination. The program collaborates closely with, and accepts referrals from, government and non-government agencies in the ACT.
To find out more about the FVSAP please email: FVSAP@act.gov.au
Resources
If you would like published copies of the following resources, please contact us.
Charter of Rights for Victims of Crime booklet (word 1mb)
What help can I get if a violent crime happens to me? Easy English 2022 (pdf 2.8kb)
Brochures:
- Victim Support ACT
- Financial Assistance Scheme
- Victims Justice Volunteer Program
Getting help after crime – children’s activity book (2011)