Compensation is available to persons who suffer injury as a result of an act of violence committed by a perpetrator of a criminal offence. In these cases, the perpetrator does not have to be caught for the claim to survive. There is, however, a threshold that victims need to meet in order to qualify for compensation.

You are eligible to claim compensation if:

• you are the victim of an act of violence and are injured as a result (a 'primary victim')
• you are the member of the immediate family of a homicide victim (a 'family victim')
• you are injured as a result of witnessing an act of violence (a 'secondary victim')
• you are the parent or guardian of a primary victim of an act of violence who was under the age of 18 years at the time of the act and you are injured as a result of learning of the act of violence (a 'secondary victim')
• you are injured while trying to:
• • prevent someone from committing an act of violence
  • arrest someone who is committing an act of violence
  • help or rescue someone against whom an act of violence is being committed (a 'primary victim')

The victims compensation scheme is run by the Attorney General Department's Victims' Services Division, who also help victims in other ways, such as providing counselling, support and information. To claim compensation you will need to lodge an application within 2 years of the act of violence occurring.

To be eligible for compensation the amount payable for compensable injuries defined under the Victims Support & Rehabilitation Act must be at least $7,500.00. Once that threshold is met, further compensation is available for actual expenses, loss of earnings and loss of personal effects, up to a statutory maximum.