New laws have passed in the Victorian parliament that will make it easier for victims of crime, like those in Melbourne’s north, to get the financial assistance they need and help to recover from acts of violence.
The change will see the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) replaced with an administrative Financial Assistance Scheme that is built around the needs of victims and aims to minimise trauma.
The scheme has been backed by a $39 million investment over four years in the Victorian budget 2022/23. This is on top of a $54.6 million investment in the Victorian budget 21/22.
Under the state government’s reform, victims will be able to receive a victim recognition statement that acknowledges the effects of the crime as well as a plain language, written statement of reasons for decisions.
Victims will be able to request a victim recognition meeting where they can talk about the harm caused to them and have their experience acknowledged by a scheme representative.
It will also expand the eligibility for people who can apply for assistance to recognise Aboriginal kinship relations, LGBTQI chosen families and other family members that an applicant may consider to be close family.
The scheme will also recognise children exposed to family violence as victims in their own right.
Minister for victim support Natalie Hutchins said: “This is the most significant change in 50 years for victims of crime who are injured as a result of an act of violence – with more victims to become eligible and a more supportive system.”
“For many victims, going to a court-based tribunal exacerbates their trauma and far too many victims give up or just do not apply for the help they need – we’re fixing that by giving them the support they need to recover.”
