What is the Victims Assistance Scheme?
The Victims Assistance Scheme (VAS) reimburses actual expenses for victims of crime who are not eligible for statutory compensation because their injuries, as a result of an act of violence, do not reach the threshold.
Eligibility
Injury: Applicants will need to prove that they are a primary victim of an act of violence that resulted in at least one of the compensable injuries in Schedule 1 of the Victims Support and Rehabilitation Act 1996.
Time to lodge:
Claims must be lodged within two years of the date of the act of violence. Late applications cannot be accepted.
Types of expenses that can be claimed: All actual expenses except the exclusions set out in clause 4 of theVictims Support and Rehabilitation Regulation 2006, which are:
- counselling services
- cleaning of clothing or other wearable items
- replacement or repair of personal effects*
* Clause 4 (2) sets out certain items that are allowed, that is, replacement or repair of prescription glasses and contact lenses or medical aids such as dentures, protheses or hearing aids.
Amount paid: The minimum amount that can be reimbursed is a total of $200 for all expenses claimed in an application. This means that the net total of all your expenses must be $200 or over before your claim is accepted. You may only be reimbursed for the difference between the amount you have paid for the medical/related expense and any rebate from a private health fund, Medicare, or other source.The maximum amount that can be reimbursed for expenses under the VAS is a total of $1500.
General Information about VAS
Claims: It is possible to lodge both a claim for Victims Compensation, and a claim for expenses under the VAS. However, the same expense cannot be reimbursed under compensation and VAS. It is important to remember that only one claim under the VAS may be made for a particular act of violence.
All receipts must be attached to your VAS application. No further receipts can be accepted after an assessor has determined your claim.
Monies from other sources:
You cannot be reimbursed through the VAS (or compensation) for an expense if you are entitled to be reimbursed through another source such as Medicare, health insurance, WorkCover, a government or non-government agency, private or other insurance, court order, civil or private settlement.
Solicitor: No legal costs will be paid in relation to claims under the VAS.
Appeal: Applicants can appeal to the Tribunal an assessor’s decision to dismiss or reduce an application in relation to the VAS. If you disagree with the amount reimbursed for expenses in a VAS claim you may write to the Director, Victims Services and ask that the award be reviewed.
Restitution: Restitution will not apply to any awards of expenses under the VAS.
Lodging a Claim under the Victims Assistance Scheme
You can complete an application form online.
