After you report a crime to police

The Victorian Government has developed A victim’s guide to support services and the criminal justice system.

This booklet contains useful information about:

• how and where to get help after you have been a victim of a crime
• information on the criminal justice system for victims of crime.

Download the Victim's Guide

Download the PDF version of the Victim's guide.

The Victims’ Charter Act 2006 outlines your rights as a victim of crime. It also explains how criminal justice agencies and support services should treat victims of crime.

The Victims’ Charter Act recognises the impact of crime on you and your family.

The Charter recognises that the victims have a legitimate interest in the response of the criminal justice system to the crime. It also outlines the role that victims play as participants (but not parties) in criminal proceedings.

The Charter does this by upholding the victim's rights to:

• safety
• privacy
• dignity
• and participation.

Download the Victims’ Charter Act 2006

For further information and to download a copy of the Victims’ Charter, go to Victims Rights – Understanding the Victims’ Charter.

Victims of Crime Helpline is a free telephone service. It provides on-the-spot support and advice to people affected by crime.

The helpline can help you with advice on:

• reporting a crime
• the court process
• applying for compensation and financial help
• other services that can help you.

Contact the Victims of Crime Helpline

You can get in touch with the helpline:

• by calling 1800 819 817 (between 8am-7pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-5pm Sunday and public holidays)
• by texting: 0427 767 891 (sms only) (between 8am-7pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-5pm Sunday and public holidays), or,
• find help in your own language.

Learn more about the Victims of Crime Helpline.

The Victims Assistance Program (VAP) is a free, non-crisis support program.

To be eligible for the VAP, you must have:

• experienced or witnessed a crime against the person in Victoria, or
• had a relative die as a result of crime against the person, in Victoria.

The VAP supports:

• victims
• witnesses, and
• affected family members.

If the above does not apply to you, call the Victims of Crime Helpline for further options on 1800 819 817.

The VAP provides practical support such as:

• information about the criminal justice system and process, including advocacy and support during any interactions with police and during court
• assisting with your safety and security planning
• arranging access to counselling, medical, financial, and legal services
• organising transport and accommodation for court attendance.

Apply for the Victims Assistance Program (VAP)

With your consent, police can refer you to the VAP through our e-referral system. You can opt in at any stage of the investigation and prosecution.

Visit the Victims of Crime website to learn more about the Victims Assistance Program, or call 1800 819 817.

The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) can help cover costs for victims and surviving family members of violent crime.

This assistance can include:

• counselling
• medical expenses
• safety-related expenses
• funeral expenses
• loss of earnings, and
• other expenses to help with recovery.

Apply for the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS)

You may be eligible to receive assistance through FAS if:

• the crime occurred in Victoria, and
• you were the victim of a violent crime (primary, secondary, or related victim), and
• you have suffered physical injury, psychological injury or trauma from the crime, and
• you have applied to the FAS within the relevant time limits.

Visit the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), or call their helpline on 1800 161 136.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims can access the dedicated Marra Yattakunar Helpline on 1800 849 778.

You can also find help in your own language.

Victims of crimes against the person in Victoria can apply to go on the Victorian Victims Register.

This service can provide you with updates about the offender, such as:

• their sentence
• when they are:
  • released on parole
  • released into the community at end of sentence or
  • placed on a supervision or detention order.

The offenders will not know if you go on the register or get information about them.

You can also get this information if a family member has died because of a crime.

If you wish, you can choose another person (a nominee) to receive this information on your behalf.

Apply for the Victorian Victims Register

Learn who can apply and how to apply for the Victorian Victims Register.

The Victoria Police e-Referral System (VPeR) is a support system that allows police to connect you with the services that work best for you.

This system is not used in emergency situations or for victims of family violence.

Connect with the Victoria Police e-Referral (VPeR)

This system is consent-based, meaning we will connect you to suitable support services only if you agree.

The contact steps of VPeR are:

1. Ask a police officer for a referral to victim services at any time.
2. A support agency will call you shortly after the referral. It may be from a private or unknown phone number.
3. The agency will generally call you at least three times.
4. Contact your police investigator if you don't receive a call from a support agency within five business days.

As a victim of crime, you can provide feedback to the court on how the crime has affected you.

If an offender has been found guilty of a crime, you are able to complete a Victim Impact Statement.

This statement explains to a judge or magistrate how the crime has affected you. The judge or magistrate takes this into consideration when sentencing.

For information, and to get a copy of the Victim Impact Statement form, visit Victims of Crime, or call the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817.

If at any time during or after the reporting of your crime you believe that police have not complied with the Victims’ Charter principles you may make a complaint online. Visit our Complaints page.

You can also contact the Police Conduct Unit by:

• Mail: Police Conduct Unit, GPO Box 913, Melbourne, Victoria 3001
• Telephone: 1300 363 101
• E-mail: Professional-Standards-COMPLAINTSANDCOMPLIMENTS@police.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)

We will attempt to resolve your complaint. If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, you may have our response reviewed by the Victims of Crime Commissioner.

For further information visit the Victims of Crime Commissioner or call 1800 010 017.

If you haven't been able to resolve your complaint with us directly, you can escalate the matter to the Victims of Crime Commissioner.