Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996: Report (html)

The purpose of the Victims of Crimes Assistance Act (1996) was to give financial assistance to victims of crime to rebuild their lives and recover. In 2017 the Attorney-General asked the Victorian Law Reform Commission to review state-funded financial assistance to victims of family violence. Later the review was expanded to include assistance for all victims of crime.

The Commission consulted widely with individuals and organisations. We received 66 submissions.

Tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 19 September 2018, the victims of crime assistance report contained 100 detailed recommendations and proposed important changes to the way the state assists victims of crime.

• Preface
• Terms of reference
• Glossary
• Executive summary
• Recommendations
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Concurrent reviews and reforms relevant to victims of crime
• 3. The history and purpose of state-funded financial assistance for victims of crime
• 4. Victoria’s existing victims of crime financial assistance scheme
• 5. Issues with Victoria’s existing victims of crime financial assistance scheme
• 6. The role of an alleged perpetrator in state-funded financial assistance for victims of crime
• 7. Assessment of victims’ needs and Victoria’s existing victims of crime financial assistance scheme
• 8. Models of state-funded financial assistance for victims of crime
• 9. The decision maker in the proposed victims of crime financial assistance scheme
• 10. Key components of the proposed victims of crime financial assistance scheme
• 11. The purpose, objectives and principles of the proposed Act for victims of crime financial assistance
• 12. Eligibility for assistance under the proposed Act for victims of crime financial assistance
• 13. Assistance available under the proposed Act for victims of crime financial assistance
• 14. Making an application under the proposed Act for victims of crime financial assistance
• 15. Decision making under the proposed Act for victims of crime financial assistance
• 16. Interaction with other schemes and refund of awards
• 17. Improving awareness and accessibility of the proposed victims of crime financial assistance scheme
• 18. Costs and sustainability of the proposed victims of crime financial assistance scheme
• 19. Monitoring the operation of the proposed Act and scheme for victims of crime financial assistance to ensure best practice
• 20. Conclusion
• Appendix A: Submissions
• Appendix B: Consultations
• Appendix C: Summary of recommendations relating to family violence
• Appendix D: First and supplementary terms of reference—summary of matters considered in the report
• Bibliography