Approved Victims of Crime Counselling Newcastle: Complete Guide

kristenfrasercouns

Jun 10, 20242 min read

Approved Victims of Crime Counselling Newcastle

Being a victim of crime can cause ongoing physical and psychological effects. The Victims Support Scheme can fund counselling sessions to help you recover if you are a victim of crime in NSW. The act of crime does not have to be reported, and victims of past crime are also eligible. This step by step guide can help you learn more about how to access Approved Victims of Crime Counselling in Newcastle, NSW.

Who is eligible for victims of crime counselling?

The Victims Support Scheme is available to anyone who has experienced an act of violence in NSW. Some examples of an act of violence include assault, sexual assault and domestic violence offences.

Primary victims, secondary victims and family victims can be eligible for counselling under The Victims Support Scheme.

A primary victim is a person who was injured or dies as a direct result of a violent crime, trying to prevent a violent crime, or trying to help or rescue a victim of a violent crime. A secondary victim is a person who was injured as a direct result of witnessing a violent crime or a parent/step parent/guardian who has been injured as a direct result of learning their child was injured by a violent crime. A Family victim is an immediate member of the homicide victim.

To find out more about eligibility, visit The Victims Support Scheme and the types of support offered in addition to Victims of Crime counselling.

What if the act of violence or incident took place outside of NSW?

If the incident took place in another state or territory, visit the victims support and services outside of NSW resources page.

What other services and supports are available for Victims of Crime?

The Victims Support Scheme offers different types of support in addition to free counselling for primary victims. Support can include financial assistance and recognition payments. If you are interested in more information as a primary victim visit the Quick Guide.

How to make an application for Victims of Crime Counselling:

1. Visit The Victims Support Scheme and check your eligibility.

2. Apply online. The application takes about 15-20 minutes and involves answering questions about the act of violence and providing your details. Make sure you have government issued ID such as a driver’s licence or Medicare card on hand ready to upload to support your application.

3. Await approval from The Victims Support Scheme – you will receive a letter with the outcome of your application and this will include the number of free counselling hours that were approved

4. Once you receive your approval letter, you can Find An Approved Counsellor. You can search by a number of filters including counsellor name, counsellor location, experience, and consultation type.