Victims of crime

Charter of Victims Rights

If you are a victim of a crime committed in NSW, you have rights. Your rights are set out and protected under the  Charter of Victims Rights. The Charter outlines 18 rights, including your right to:

• be treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect
• access necessary medical care, counselling, and legal help 
• information about the investigation and prosecution of the offender
• protection from the accused person
• financial assistance for victims of personal violence.

For more information, see Charter of Victims Rights on the Victims Services website.

Victims Support Scheme

If you are the victim of crime, you may be entitled to support under the Victims Support Scheme.  

You can access support under the Victims Support Scheme if you have been injured, physically or psychologically, as a direct result of a violent crime (primary victim). This includes people who have been injured:

• witnessing a violence crime
• while trying to stop the violence, rescue the victim or arrest the perpetrator.

Support is also available to the family of victims, including:

• a parent or guardian of a child who has been injured as a direct result of becoming aware of the violent crime
• a member of the immediate family of a homicide victim, such as a spouse, de facto partner, parent, child or sibling.

For more information, see Eligibility criteria on the Victims Services website.

The Victims Support Scheme helps victims with:

• counselling
• financial assistance for immediate needs, such as medical bills or moving costs
• financial assistance for economic loss, for things like loss of earnings and medical treatment
• a recognition payment.

Family of homicide victims can get help with funeral expenses and forensic cleaning.

For more information, see Victims Support Scheme on the Victims Services website.

For further information about your rights and the financial support for victims, call Victims Services between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays):

• Victims Access Line on 1800 633 063
  
• Aboriginal Contact Line on 1800 019 123.

Other compensation

You may be able to make a civil claim against the person who committed the crime against you.

In some cases, a court may order that an offender pay you compensation for your injuries. This is called a criminal compensation order.   

You are not eligible for support under the Victims Support Scheme if:

• you have applied for compensation in a civil case
• may be entitled to get a criminal compensation order, or
• an order has already been made or paid to you.

If you have already received financial support from Victims Services, you may have to pay it back if you make a civil claim or a criminal compensation order is made.

If you want to find out more about criminal compensation orders or making a civil claim, you should get legal advice.