Life in Australia Guide

Australia has a well-established public support system for crime victims. Every state and territory has a victim support agency (such as Victims Services) providing free counselling, safety planning and court accompaniment, and there are victims compensation schemes (victims compensation / financial assistance) that help victims of violent crime with treatment costs, counselling costs and loss of income. Importantly, this support is not just for citizens. Holders of temporary visas — tourists, students, working holiday makers — can report and receive support in exactly the same way, and reporting a crime does not disadvantage your visa. This guide covers the steps that come 'after' the emergency response (000) — reporting, connecting with support, applying for compensation and taking part in court. For domestic violence, see the domestic violence guide, and for financial scams, see the scam prevention guide as well.

When you report, police record the details of the incident and take your statement. Just explain calmly when and where it happened, what occurred, and whether there is any evidence such as witnesses, CCTV or photos. Accuracy matters in a statement, so if your English isn't perfect, be sure to request a free interpreter — requesting an interpreter is a guaranteed right and does not disadvantage how your report is handled. Once the report is recorded, police assign an event number (report/reference number, depending on the state).

Every state and territory runs a compensation / financial assistance scheme for victims of violent crime. Support items are typically psychological counselling costs, treatment costs, loss-of-income support, emergency living expenses and, in some states, a recognition payment. Contrary to a common misconception, in many states you can apply even if the offender hasn't been caught or convicted; you just need to establish that you were a victim, for example through a police report record. Application deadlines vary by state and are usually within 2–3 years of the incident (they are often extended for child victims, domestic violence and similar, and NSW's counselling support has no deadline).

• Police report record and event number — a basic requirement for applying in most states.
• Proof of harm — medical certificates and records, counselling records, receipts, and proof of loss of income (payslips, etc.).
• Check your state's application deadline — usually 2–3 years, varying by state; confirm the latest details on the official website.

The names, scope of support and deadlines of victim support agencies and compensation schemes differ from state to state. The following are representative examples — confirm the latest information on your state's official website.

Reporting isn't the end. Taking care of the following five things will make the later compensation application and court process much smoother.

• Keep the event number and the officer's contact details safe — photograph them and store them in at least two places, such as the cloud.
• Check the progress of the investigation — give your event number to the police station or officer in charge and ask about progress (for online reports, use the enquiry method advised at the time of lodging).
• Contact the victim support line early — counselling and safety planning are more effective the sooner they happen, and you can also be guided through the compensation application process.
• Request the witness assistance service before attending court — the witness assistance officer at each state's DPP or the court provides explanations of the process and court accompaniment.
• Prepare a Victim Impact Statement — at the sentencing stage after a conviction, you have the right to tell the court how the crime has affected your life.

The following are things victims often miss. Knowing them in advance can prevent unnecessary loss.

• Confusing the emergency and non-emergency routes — you shouldn't call 000 for an incident that's already over, but conversely, if danger is in progress, don't hesitate to call 000.
• Missing the application deadline — compensation applications usually have a 2–3 year deadline. Many people put it off thinking 'I'll do it later' and miss the deadline, so contact the support agency right after reporting.
• Giving up on reporting out of visa worries — reporting a crime does not affect your visa. Without a report record, it also becomes harder to prove your eligibility for compensation and support.
• Giving an inaccurate statement without an interpreter — forcing yourself to give a statement in English can later lead to inconsistency issues in your statement. A free interpreter is your right, so be sure to request one.
• Paying unnecessary fees to paid agents — the official victims compensation application is free and the support agency helps with the process. Be wary of agents who demand high fees.