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Secondary Victims
Financial Assistance Scheme Overview
The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) provides support to individuals who are present at the scene of a violent crime and are injured as a direct result.
Who is Considered a Secondary Victim?
Witnesses
In order to meet the requirements, an individual must:
- Be physically present at the site of a violent act
- Witness a violent act first hand, either seeing or hearing it take place; and
- Be injured as a direct result of this
Example
Megan was with her boyfriend at a club when he was physically assaulted by another individual. As a result of witnessing this assault, she has now developed anxiety.
Megan is a secondary victim as she wasn't assaulted herself but developed an injury (anxiety) as a direct result of witnessing the violent act.
Parents
For a parent or guardian to be considered a secondary victim, their child must have been under 18 at the time of the violent act.
They must be injured as a direct result of discovering the violent act committed against their child.
Relationship evidence
Applicants within this category will need to provide proof of their relationship with the child, this can be evidenced with the following documents:
- Birth or adoption certificate
- Guardianship documents
- Foster care documents
- Government documents (Medicare Card, Centrelink documents, etc.)
- Letter from a local Aboriginal community-controlled organisation
A parent or guardian is someone who in relation to that child is their:
- Biological parent
- Step-parent
- Adoptive parent
- Foster parent
- Guardian
- Kinship Carer
- Or, has responsibility for the care, welfare, and development of the child (this could include Aboriginal kinship relationships)
To be eligible, the parent or carer must become aware of the act of violence after it happened.
Example
James is Alex's father. Alex is a 14 years old boy who, when walking home from school one day, is assaulted. After discovering the assault, James develops anxiety and has panic attacks whenever Alex leaves the house.
James is a secondary victim as his injury is directly caused by the assault against his son.
What Support Is Available?
As a secondary victim, you could be entitled to up to $50,000 towards the following:
- Counselling expenses
- Medical expenses
- In exceptional circumstances:
- Loss of earnings (up to $20,000)
- Expenses to assist with your recovery
Speak To A Solicitor
If you believe that you may fall into one of the categories listed above or have any questions about which type of assistance you may be eligible to receive, we would encourage you to contact our office for further assistance.