Financial Assistance Scheme 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. Integrity and information concerns

  As part of its assessment of applications and when processing payments, the FAS may identify integrity issues with applications or documentation.

• 29. Victim Recognition

  Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines: Victim recognition is intended to acknowledge and recognise the effects of the act of violence on a victim.

• Schedule A: FAS Assistance Caps and Schedule of Fees per Financial Year

  Financial Assistance Scheme Assistance Caps by Financial Year

Updated 2 July 2026