- Date:
- 30 June 2025
1. Introduction and purpose
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: When making decisions about financial assistance, FAS assessors must consider and apply these guidelines.
2. Key terms
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Definitions of the key terms used in these guidelines, unless specified otherwise.
3. Time limits to apply
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Time limits differ depending on the victim’s age and the type of violent act.
4. Reporting a violent act to police
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Applicants must provide information in their application form to show that a violent act has been reported to police within a reasonable time, or they must identify ‘special circumstances’ for not reporting the violent act to police.
5. Previous VOCAT applications
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Regarding eligibility for FAS for applicants who have previously been a VOCAT applicant.
6. Primary victims
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: A person who was injured because of a violent act is a primary victim.
7. Secondary victims
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Secondary victims are present when a violent act occurs and are injured as a result of witnessing that act, or are parents who get injured as a result of a violent act committed against their child.
8. Related victims
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: A related victim is a close family member, a dependant, or had an intimate personal relationship with a loved one who passed away because of a violent act.
9. Violent Acts
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: To be eligible for financial assistance, the FAS must be satisfied that a primary or secondary victim was a victim of a violent act.
10. Injury
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Victims must show in their application that they suffered an injury as a direct result of a violent act.
11. Authorised Representatives
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Victims can nominate someone to assist them with their application.
12. Payments to Funds in Court
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: In some instances, the FAS will pay assistance to the Funds in Court office, to be managed on behalf of a victim.
13. Summary of financial assistance available from the FAS
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Summary which includes a breakdown of assistance available for the three victim types: primary, secondary and related.
14. Interim assistance
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: The purpose of interim assistance is to meet the immediate needs of victims whilst they wait for the FAS to make a final decision about their application.
15. Assistance for primary victims
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: The types of assistance that eligible primary victims may wish to claim from FAS.
16. Special financial assistance
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Special financial assistance is a payment made only to primary victims on behalf of the community.
17. Assistance for secondary victims
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: The types of assistance that eligible secondary victims may wish to claim from FAS.
18. Assistance for related victims
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: The types of assistance that eligible related victims may wish to claim from FAS.
19. Funeral expenses
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: The FAS can provide funeral expenses to an applicant for the costs associated with the funeral of a primary victim.
20. Legal costs
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Although the FAS is designed to be accessible for all victims, some victims may benefit from assistance from a lawyer.
21. Character
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: A victim's character, behaviour, attitude and past criminal history may all be considered by FAS when deciding an application.
22. Payments from other schemes
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Victims may be eligible for assistance, payment, or compensation from other schemes for the same expense or violent act.
23. Repayments
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: The FAS has the power to require victims to repay assistance in limited circumstances.
24. Variation of a VOCAT award
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: A variation application is a request to change an award of assistance made by Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT).
25. Variation of FAS assistance
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: A variation application is a request to change the assistance paid by the FAS.
26. Internal reviews
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: If an applicant is not satisfied with a FAS decision, they can ask the FAS to review that decision.
27. Payment for other costs
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: The FAS may pay a legal practitioner or other person for other (non-legal) costs incurred in representing or assisting an applicant in relation to an application.
28. Victim Recognition
Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Victim recognition is intended to acknowledge and recognise the effects of the act of violence on a victim.
Updated