Top Tips - Counselling
 

• You should make it clear in the application form what the act of violence was.
• If you are not the primary victim, you should make it clear how you are a victim and/or how you were involved in the act of violence.
• If you are completing the form for someone else, remember that the person claiming for counselling has to sign the form.

• If you are are receiving counselling and need a report written by an Authorised Report Writer for your compensation claim, remember that your counsellor cannot be the same person as your Authorised Report Writer. If a person has counselled you then they can never prepare a report for you as an Authorised Report Writer, even if you stop receiving counselling from them.

• If you need an interpreter, the Tribunal will arrange one for you, but it may take a little longer to arrange the appointment.
• The Tribunal will pay for the interpreter if we have arranged for him/her to be present at the appointment.

• If you miss 2 appointments then counselling will be suspended. If you want to keep receiving counselling, you will have to explain why you missed the 2 appointments.
• If you reapply and miss another appointment, counselling will be suspended again.

• If you claimed for compensation under the Victims Compensation Act 1987, you cannot receive counselling under the Approved Counselling Scheme. However, you can call the Victims of Crime Bureau to discuss other options for support on: on (02) 9374 3000 or 1800 633 063 (toll free) or TTY (02) 9374 3175 for people who use a TTY machine.
• All other victims of violent crime can apply for approved counselling regardless of when the act of violence happened.