Footscray Community Legal Centre

Victims of crime

This office assists victims of crime in a number of ways. We can refer you to specialist agencies for follow up assistance, counselling and support and we can help you apply for Victims of Crime Assistance through the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal ( VOCAT ). As a victim of crime you may be eligible for further counselling, recovery of expenses, special financial assistance and other payments that might help you recover.

The importance of appropriate and accessible counselling services being quickly available to Victims of Crime cannot be underestimated. The Victims Assistance Program for the Western Region located at the Brimbank Community Centre has provided specialised support to many of our clients who frequently give positive feedback.

Much of our Victims of Crime work is in the area of family violence and sexual assault. Whilst applicants are often disappointed in the small amounts of compensation available, the process is in most cases is a positive one in providing a variety of important ongoing supports, an opportunity to be heard and believed by a Court and some closure.

We would like to see the provisions in the legislation relating to childhood sexual assault improved.