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Who Can Apply

An Applicant may be able to obtain assistance from elsewhere - see the list below.  VOCAT recommends that these avenues are explored before lodging an application with VOCAT.

 

A victim may be entitled to obtain compensation from:

• Workcover (if the incident occurred at work); or
• Transport Accident Commission (if the incident involved a motor vehicle); or
• The Police Assistance Act (if the victim was injured assisting the police); or
• Medicare and/or Private Health Insurance (for some medical bills); or
• The offender (if found guilty).

If assistance is available from one of these sources (or another source) the VOCAT may not be able to assist and may require reimbursement of any amount paid to the victim if they are successful in claiming compensation from another source.

 

In order to apply for assistance the act of violence:

• must have occurred in Victoria,
• must be punishable on conviction by imprisonment;
• must involved an assault or injury to or threat of injury to one or more persons, including sexual assaults, stalking and kidnapping.

An injury is defined as:

• actual physical bodily harm; and/or 
• mental illness or disorder, or exacerbation of a mental illness or disorder, whether or not flowing from nervous shock; and/or 
• pregnancy; and/or
• any combination of the above arising from an act of violence

The Tribunal has no power to assist with the loss of, or damage to property.

There are four different categories of applications:

• Primary Victim
• Secondary Victim
• Related Victim
• Application for Funeral Expenses only
  

For details of the categories go to the relevant page in the related pages to the right of this page