The NSW Approved Counselling Scheme

Counselling for victims of crime is available under the Approved Counselling Scheme via Victims Services. This scheme provides free face to face counselling to help deal with the trauma and psychological impact that is often experienced after being a victim of crime.

The counsellors approved within the Scheme are psychologists, psychiatrists, or social workers who have recognised experience working with victims of crime.

You are eligible to apply for counselling if you are:

• the victim injured as a result of an act of violence (primary victim); or
• the victim injured as a result of witnessing an act of violence (secondary victim); or
• the parent/guardian of a victim of an act of violence (and victim was under 18) and you are injured as a result of learning of the act of violence (secondary victim); or
• a relative of a homicide victim (family victim); or
• injured while trying to: prevent someone from committing an act of violence, or arrest someone who has just committed an act of violence, or help/rescue someone against whom an act of violence is being committed, or has just been committed (primary victim).

However, you are not eligible to apply for counselling if:

• the act of violence did not occur in NSW;
• it cannot be proved that an act of violence occurred;
• the application arises from a crime against property;
• the application arises from injuries caused by a motor vehicle (except for the immediate family of a person who is killed where the use of a motor vehicle is involved and the person’s death occurred due to an offence of murder or manslaughter.

If you are eligible to receive counselling under the Scheme, you will need to complete an application form and fax, post or submit it online to Victims Services. You will usually receive a response within 2 working days. If the application is approved, an initial 2 hours of counselling is approved. After the initial 2 hours the counsellor will make a recommendation to Victims Services about the number of hours required for further counselling.

For further information about the Approved Counselling Scheme, see Victims Services website for online applications, or download an application form below.

Counselling Application

 Homicide Counselling Application