Support services for victims and witnesses of crime

A range of support services and legal advice is available to victims of crime in NSW.

Support services can assist victims of crime to better understand their situation, provide assistance with health and safety needs and preparation for going to court, and help them with recovery.

Some victims of crime may be eligible for counselling and financial assistance, depending on their circumstances.

Information and referrals for victims of crime

Anyone who has experienced a crime in NSW can contact Victims Services for free and confidential information, advice and referrals to support their recovery.

Victims Services can put you in touch with support services that can assist you and help you to learn about victims rights.

Victims Services is a part of the Department of Communities and Justice and administers the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013.

Reach out to Victims Services for more information.

Victims Services

Victims Services provides information, advice and referrals to all victims of crime in NSW to support their recovery and learn about their rights. Victims of a violent crime may also be able to access support through the Victims Support Scheme, including counselling and financial assistance.

Victims Access line :1800 633 063Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Aboriginal Contact line:1800 019 123Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Support for victims of a violent crime

The Victims Support Scheme helps people who are victims of violent crime in NSW.

If you have been injured physically or psychologically due to a violent crime or modern slavery in NSW, you may be able to get support for your recovery through the scheme.

The scheme can provide eligible victims with:

  • counselling
  • financial assistance for immediate needs
  • financial assistance for economic loss
  • a recognition payment

The type of support you can get, the information you need to provide and the time limits to apply will depend on your situation.

The Victims Support Scheme is administered by the Commissioner of Victims Rights. 

To learn more about the scheme and how to apply, visit the Victims Services website or contact Victims Services, within the Department of Communities and Justice:

Specialist Victims Support Service

The Specialist Victims Support Service provides support to victims navigating the forensic mental health system.

More help and support for victims

Other counselling, grief and support services are available from the services below.

National Association for Loss and Grief

The National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG) is a support network for people experiencing loss and grief.

Homicide Victims Support Group

The Homicide Victims Support Group provides counselling, referral, and advocacy to family members of homicide victims.

Counselling and other support services

A range of free information services are available online and over the telephone to help victims of crime.

Lifeline

Lifeline Australia is 24-hour counselling, information and referral service. Local call cost from a landline; free from mobiles.

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue offer support and counselling. Information on depression, anxiety and related disorders, available treatments and where to get help.

ACON

ACON is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) health organisation. They offer information, referrals, counselling, advocacy, and practical support for the LGBTI community experiencing domestic and family violence.

The Black Dog Institute

The Black Dog Institute offers information, resources, and support tools to help people take care of their mental health.

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline offer online and telephone counselling for children aged between 5 and 25 years of age.

Relationships Australia

Relationships Australia offers support to couples and families having difficulties in their relationship.

Trauma counselling

There are specialist services for different people who need counselling after experiencing violence, trauma, abuse or neglect.

Australian Childhood Foundation

The Australian Childhood Foundation provides therapeutic services to children to help them recover from trauma, abuse, neglect, and family violence.

Blue Knot Foundation

Blue Knot offers trauma counselling for people who have experienced childhood trauma.

Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)

STARTTS provide services for refugees, asylum seekers and people from refugee-like situations who have survived torture or other traumatic experiences associated with organised violence.

Wattle Place

Wattle Place offers trauma-informed support, counselling, information, and referrals for people with childhood experiences of institutional care, foster care, child sexual abuse, and past forced adoption.

Victims registers

Victims of crime can register for services that provide support and information about a convicted offender.

Read more information from NSW Police about victims registers.

Youth Justice Victims Register

The Youth Justice Victims Register can provide information to victims of young offenders. Information can only be provided to registered victims. To be eligible the offender must have been found guilty of the crime, sentenced by the courts, and be in custody in a Youth Justice centre. Registered victims have the right to be kept informed of specified events that relate to young offenders.

Victims Register

The Corrective Services New South Wales (CSNSW) Victims Register may share information about offenders who are serving a sentence as a result of a criminal act against victims. You can apply to go on the Victims Register if:

  • you are a victim of an offence for which the adult offender has been sentenced, or
  • you are a family representative of such a victim of crime – if the victim of crime is deceased, incapacitated or under 18 years of age.
  • Email: victims.register@dcj.nsw.gov.au
  • Phone: (02) 8688 0555

Specialist Victims Register

The Specialist Victims Register can provide information to victims of forensic patients. You can apply to be added to the Specialist Victims Register if you are a primary victim or a family victim of a violent crime committed by someone who has either been:

  • found 'act proven but not criminally responsible' for an offence
  • found 'unfit not acquitted' and given a limiting term at a special hearing.

For more information, contact Victims Services at the Department of Communities and Justice:

Victim support person

A support person can be a valuable source of comfort and assistance during a challenging time. 

The support person can be a family member, friend or counsellor as long as they are not giving evidence too. 

You can take the support person with you to court while you give evidence. Your support person can go into the remote witness room with you. They are not allowed to speak to you while you are giving evidence but they will sit close to you.

For people who need to be a witness in court

Witness Assistance Service (WAS) can help witnesses involved in legal matters, including:

  • preparing for court
  • giving evidence
  • knowing what to expect on the day.

Run by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), it has staff who are social workers, psychologists or counsellors who understand both trauma and how the criminal justice system works.

As well as helping you feel ready to give evidence, they can keep you updated on the progress of your court case or refer you to ongoing services if required.

WASs involvement finishes when a court matter ends. WAS officers are not lawyers, so cannot give legal advice.

Witness Assistance Service

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Witness Assistance Service (WAS) provides a range of support services and information.

Victims and Witnesses of Crime Court Support

The Victims and Witnesses of Crime Court Support supports victims and witnesses of crime who have been required to attend court by the police.

For people experiencing domestic and family violence

Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS) can help with:

  • applying for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO)
  • general victim support
  • immigration issues where a relationship has broken down because of domestic and family violence.

Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS) offers support and legal help if you are affected by domestic and family violence and have a family law issue.

FASS support workers can

  • help you plan for your safety
  • talk to the Family Courts about your safety at court
  • give you information and support during your family law case
  • help with practical problems like Centrelink and housing
  • advocate for you with services like police
  • connect you with men’s behaviour change programs or other services.

Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service

Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS) provides information, advocacy and referrals to assist women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence.

Family Advocacy and Support Service

Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS) provides support and legal help if you are affected by domestic and family violence and have a family law issue.

Domestic Violence NSW Service Management

Domestic Violence NSW Service Management provides advocacy, support, and housing services for people escaping or experiencing domestic and family violence and homelessness.

Full Stop Australia

Full Stop Australia provide support to victims and survivors of sexual, domestic, or family violence.

NSW Domestic Violence Line

NSW Domestic Violence Line provides counselling and referrals to women experiencing domestic and family violence. This service can provide victims and survivors with access to hospital care, crisis accommodation, family support, explain Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs), and help them to develop a safety plan and talk to police, court, and lawyers.

For people with cognitive impairment

The Justice Advocacy Service (JAS) takes individual advocacy approach to support people with cognitive impairment when they are in contact with police, courts and legal representatives.

As per the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) cognitive impairment includes (without limitation) any of the following:

  • intellectual disability
  • borderline intellectual functioning
  • dementia
  • acquired brain injury
  • drug or alcohol related brain damage, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
  • autism spectrum disorder.

Read JAS resources and fact sheets.

Justice Advocacy Service

The Justice Advocacy Service (JAS) supports young people and adults with cognitive impairment in contact with the NSW criminal justice system.

Intellectual Disability Rights Services

The Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) is a free service for people with cognitive impairment across NSW. IDRS provides information, assistance with legal problems, support persons at police stations, courts advocacy, and support to appeal decisions of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

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