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Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines

Date:
30 June 2025

The Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines were updated on 30 June 2025.

Refer to this page for the latest version of the guidelines.

  • 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.

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