The Tribunal has achieved a significant reduction in the number of pending claims for victims compensation, and this has ensured that the time between lodgement of claims and their determination is being signficantly reduced.

Within the next 12 months, the Tribunal aims to finalise the majority of the claims pending as at 30 June 2002.

For all new claims lodged from July 2002, the Tribunal aims to finalise the majority of these claims within six to twelve months from the date of their lodgement.

Priority is given to applications for compensation in relation to homicide and sexual assault, reflecting the gravity of these offences and consistent with the priorities of the District Court. The average time for processing compensation claims for family members of homicide victims is 3-6 months and for victims of sexual assault 6-12 months.

Further, procedures are in place for interim awards to be considered where a victim of crime requires urgent payment, such as for the costs of treatment for physical injuries which have arisen from the act of violence. Read about making a request for an interim award.

It should be noted that the above time periods are often affected by factors outside the control of the Tribunal, such as awaiting the finalisation of police investigations, criminal proceedings, or claims relating to the same act of violence in workers compensation or civil jurisdictions.

Where claims for victims compensation are lodged with all the necessary supporting documentation and the police investigation or court proceedings are finalised, the claim may be immediately listed for determination.