Applying to be an Approved Counsellor
About the Approved Counselling Scheme
The Victims Support and Rehabilitation Act 1996 provides for an Approved Counselling Scheme, offering counselling services to eligible applicants.
Counselling is available for:
- Victims of violent crime in NSW who will need to complete an initial 2 hour application form; and
- Family members and relatives of a homicide victim who will need to complete an application form for up to 20 hours of counselling.
Eligibility of approved counsellors
To be accepted as an approved counsellor for the purposes of the Victims Support and Rehabilitation Act 1996, counsellors must:
- be a member of either the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP); or
- a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW); or
- be fully registered as a psychologist, with the NSW Psychologists’ Registration Board; and
- demonstrate a minimum of two years experience as a registered provider in their profession; and
- demonstrate currency in the counselling of victims of crime (within the past 12 months); and
- demonstrate currency in professional training and development in relation to counselling victims of crime; and
- identify an ability to assess victims of crime and develop intervention plans.
Other conditions for the approved counsellor
In addition to meeting the approval criteria, counsellors must:
- provide their own professional indemnity insurance
- be available to see victims of crime within 48 hours of first contact for an initial assessment
- agree to abide by their own professional code and the Code of Conduct for approved counsellors
- sign a Statement of Fitness to Provide Counselling
- agree to accept the government determined fee for approved counsellors
- agree to abide by the decisions of the Victims Compensation Tribunal as to who is eligible for counselling
- provide regular reports as required at pre-determined intervals
- not receive payment from any other source for work undertaken on behalf of the Victims Compensation Tribunal.
Approval is provided for the period of two years, subject to the above conditions and will be reviewed at the end of that period.
Applying to be an approved counsellor
The Victims of Crime Bureau provides support, information and referral services to victims of crime, and administers an Approved Counselling Scheme. We are currently seeking professionals to add to our list of Approved Counsellors, particularly from rural NSW, and other states. Applicants must either be fully registered as a psychologist in New South Wales, a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers or a member of the RANZCP. Rates vary from $77 to $121 (plus GST where applicable) per hour dependent on profession.
For application packages please contact the Victims of Crime Bureau.
Approval process
Your application will be considered by the Professional Advisory Panel which is convened on a regular basis to assist the Director, Victims Services in implementing the relevant parts of the Victims Support and Rehabilitation Act 1996. Membership of the Panel includes the following organisations:
- NSW Psychologists’ Registration Board
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
- Mental Health Branch, NSW Department of Health
- Australian Association of Social Workers
After the Professional Advisory Panel has considered your application and made its recommendation to the Director, you will be advised in writing of the Director’s decision. Should you be successful, you will be sent a Counsellor handbook and also the signed copy of the MOU for your information. At the same time, your name will be placed on the list of Approved Counsellors. See Counsellor list on this website.
Further reading
If you are interested in applying to become an Authorised Report Writer (ARW) please select this link - Applying to be an ARW
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