Primary Victims - Financial Assistance Overview
The Financial Assistance Scheme provides support to individuals directly affected by violent crimes in Victoria. If you've been injured, traumatised, or impacted while helping others during a crime, you may be eligible. Injuries don't have to be physical, they can be psychological or traumatic.
Who is Considered a Primary Victim?
Direct Victims
You are eligible if you were directly injured or harmed due to a violent act.
Child Witnesses
Children who heard, saw, or were exposed to a violent act may be considered primary victims.
Aiding a Victim
Individuals injured while helping someone during or shortly after a violent act.
Crime Intervention
Individuals injured whilst trying to arrest a person or prevent a crime.
Direct Victims
In order to meet the requirements there must be a direct link between the act and your injury, meaning that without the act of violence there would be no injury.
Example: Imogen's former partner attends her place of work and threatens to kill her in front of her colleagues. This causes her severe trauma and she develops anxiety.
Imogen would be considered a primary victim as was her ex partner's threats that caused her to develop post traumatic stress disorder.
Child Witnesses
For a child to be considered a primary victim, they must have suffered an injury directly relating to:
- Overhearing a violent act taking place
- Seeing a violent act taking place
- Providing support or assistance to a victim after a violent act
Example: Finn is 8 years old and lives with his mother. One day, an associate of his mother attended their house and assaulted Finn's mother whilst he was in his room. Finn can hear the assault and once the offender has left calls an ambulance for her.
Finn is traumatised by this and develops depression.
Finn is a primary victim as he is a child who was exposed to the effects of a violent act.
Aiding a Victim
To be considered a primary victim, an individual needs to have been trying to rescue another person they thought was a victim of a violent act, either whilst it happens or immediately following the act and their injury has to be as a direct consequence of their intervention.
Example: David is walking his dog when he hears a scream. When he turns to look he sees someone assaulting another dog walker. David intervenes to stop the assault but in the process has his nose broken.
David is a primary victim as his injury was caused by his attempt to aid the other dog walker.
Crime Intervention
To qualify, a person must show they intervened in a violent act and were injured as a direct result. If trying to arrest someone, they must have reasonably believed the person committed a violent act. Preventing a crime must involve deliberate, proactive action — not accidental involvement.
Example: John witnesses a mugging and rushes to intervene. He manages to restrain the offender until the police arrive. John's previous neck injury is exacerbated and he will now need further treatment for this.
John is a primary victim as he tried to intervene in a violent act and was injured as a direct result of his efforts.
What Support Is Available?
As a primary victim, you could be entitled to up to $60,000 towards the following:
- Counselling expenses
- Medical expenses
- Lost or damaged clothes that were worn at the time of the act
- Loss of earnings (up to $20,000)
- Safety expenses
- In exceptional circumstances, expenses to help your recovery from the violent act
Additionally, you could be eligible for a special financial assistance payment up to $25,000.
The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) can also pay for the funeral expenses incurred as a direct result of the death of a primary victim of a violent act. Funeral expenses are paid in addition to the $60,000 limit of assistance that can be provided to primary victims.
Speak To A Solicitor
If you believe you could fall into one of the categories listed above or have any questions about which type of victim you would be, one of our solicitors would be happy to provide further assistance.