Victim Liaison Officers provide a contact point for crime victims with police enquiries, including case status information and information on police and legal proceedings. They also give advice and assistance, make referrals to other agencies and, on request, provide court support.

Phone (02) 6256 7777

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre

A service for adult and child survivors of sexual assault. It provides crisis support, counselling, information and court support. The Centre also runs an Aboriginal program and a community education program. Office hours 9am - 5pm, Monday-Friday.

Phone (02) 6247 2525 (24 hrs) TTY (02) 6247 1657 Email crcc@rapecrisis.org.au

Domestic Violence Crisis Service

The DVCS is available for any person affected by domestic violence (24 hours / 7 days). It provides crisis intervention and telephone support; information and referrals for women and men; and contact with safe accommodation agencies. The Service also offers court support.

Phone (02) 6280 0900 TTY (02) 6228 1852

Victims of Crime Co-ordinator

The Victims of Crime Co-ordinator is an independent statutory position. The Co-ordinator: receives, investigates and conciliates crime victims' complaints; acts as an advocate for victims in the administration of justice; promotes reform to meet victims' interests; provides information and referral as well as assistance with Victims of Crime Financial Assistance and with Victim Impact Statements; and facilitates the Family Violence Intervention Program.

Phone (02) 6217 4431

Victim Services Scheme

Services provided include: intake and assessment for victims of crime and those affected by crime; counselling and support services; provision of or referral to professional counselling and other therapies; and information. The Service in partnership with VOCAL (ACT) provides volunteer support including court support.

Victim Services Line 1800 833 272 (Toll Free / 24 hours) VOCAL Phone (02) 6295 9600

New South Wales

DPP Witness Assistance Service

The Witness Assistance Service is a part of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and is staffed by professionally qualified workers. WAS provides a range of services to meet the needs of victims of crime and witnesses appearing in court matters prosecuted by the DPP. The Service aims to reduce the trauma to crime victims.

Phone (02) 9285 8777 or 1800 814 534

Homicide Victim Support Group (HVSG)

The HVSG provides support to co-victims of homicide. It seeks to create and maintain an environment where mutual support can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals. The group also provides education and champions legislative reform.

Phone (02) 8274 8900

Victims Services

www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/

Victims Services is part of the NSW Attorney General's Department and consists of the Victims Compensation Tribunal, the Victims of Crime Bureau and the Victims Advisory Board. The three sections work together to help victims of crime in New South Wales access services and entitlements to assist in their recovery.

Phone the 24hr support line on ( 02) 9374 3000 or 1800 633 063

TTY ( 02) 9374 3175 TIS 13 14 50

Victims of Crime Assistance League (NSW) Hunter

VOCAL Inc. NSW provides generalist service to crime victims and others affected by crime, although it is funded primarily to help people in the Hunter Region of NSW. Services provided include: information and referral; support during the court or other process; advocacy, mediation and mentoring; and crisis grief and emotional support.

Phone ( 02) 4926 5826 Website www.vocal.org.au

Northern Territory

DPP Victim Support Unit

www.nt.gov.au/dpp/html/victim/index.html

The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions offers support to victims of crime, witnesses and their families — anywhere in the Northern Territory throughout the criminal justice process. There are five members of the Victim Support Unit (VSU) — three in Darwin, two in Alice Springs.

Phone (08) 8999 7533 or 1800 659 449

Victims of Crime NT

Victims of Crime NT provides: a 24 hour telephone support line; assistance on police referral; information on victims' rights, victim impact statements and Victims of Crime Assistance applications; advocacy; referral to other agencies; and a court support program for domestic violence restraining order applications and other victims on request.

Phone (08) 8941 0995 or 1800 672 242

Queensland

Relationships Australia - Victims Counselling and Support Service

Services include:

Counselling, information, education and referral services to victims of crime.
24 hour telephone information and referral.
Specialist staff in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane.
Counselling ‘brokered’ from nominated RA services at locations where no VCSS staff ‘on the ground.

Phone 1300 130 703 Website www.relationships.com.au

DPP Victim Support Unit

The Victim Liaison Officers can only assist people who are the victims of crime for matters actually being handled by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Phone (07) 3239 6042

Homicide Victim Support Group

The Queensland Homicide Victims' Support Group (QHVSG) provides support and understanding to victims of homicide. Linking members with others who have also lost a loved one to murder, members feel a sense of inclusion and normality of the emotions they are experiencing. QHVSG provides 24 hour phone support, contact through monthly newsletters, assistance with compensation matters, and annual memorial services.

Freecall number within Qld 1800 774 744

Phone outside of Qld (07) 3857 4744

www.qhvsg.org.au

Tasmania

Victims of Crime Service

The Victims of Crime Service is operated by Lifeline. Its services include: personal support, counselling and information; referral to other services; information about victims' rights; court support; advocacy; and assistance with victim impact statements.

Phone 1300 300 238

Victims Assistance Unit, Department of Justice

Services provided include: production and maintenance of the Victims Register and the provision of information to registered victims; information and advice on court processes and outcomes; liaison between government agencies and non-government organisations; administration of the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme; promotion of victims' rights; and support and advice to victims of crime.

Phone (03) 6233 5002 or 1300 663 773 (Tasmania) Email victims@justice.tas.gov.au

Victoria

Victims Advisory Unit - Victoria Police

The Victims Advisory Unit provides: information, advice and assistance; referrals; access to cleaning services; and help with applications for financial assistance for families bereaved by homicide or culpable driving, and victims of other serious crimes.

Phone (03) 9628 8380

DPP Witness Assistance Service

Phone 1800 641 927

Victims Support Agency

http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/victimsofcrime/

The Victim Support Agency runs the Victims of Crime Helpline. It also: provides information on victims' rights, entitlements, the criminal justice system and services; advice, including legal advice, and other assistance, including referrals to other agencies.

Phone (03) 8662-1700. Helpline 1800 819 817

Victims Support Services (statewide)

Victim Support Services is a statewide network of services that provide: immediate crisis response by telephone and outreach services; therapeutic counselling; referral; and practical support. The Services also offer court support where it is not available and conduct community education programs.

Metropolitan Northern Phone (03) 9355 9900

Metropolitan Southern Phone (03) 9705 3200

Metropolitan Eastern Phone (03) 9818 6703

Metropolitan Western Phone (03) 9363 1811

Barwon South West Region: Geelong Phone (03) 5278 8122
Warrnambool Phone (03) 5561 8818

Gippsland Region:                    Bairnsdale Phone (03) 5150 2115
                                                    Churchill Phone (03) 5122 1400
                                                    Korumburra Phone (03) 5654 8112

Grampians Region: Horsham Phone (03) 5382 6789
Ballarat Phone (03) 5335 6661

Hume Region:                           Wangaratta Phone (03) 5722 2355
                                                    Shepparton Phone (03) 5831 6967
                                                    Wodonga Phone (02) 6056 62 82

Loddon Mallee Region: Bendigo Phone (03) 5441 9800 or 1800 620 542

Mildura Phone (03) 5022 1475

Victims Register (Victoria)

The Victims Register is maintained by Corrections Victoria. For information, please contact:

Corrections Victoria, Department of Justice, Level 6 / 452 Flinders Street, Melbourne or PO Box 123A, Melbourne VIC 3001

Victoria Homicide Support Group (VHVSG)

VHVSG offers immediate Support, Assistance & Advocacy to Families & Friends of Homicide Victims. VHVSG strives to help survivors with a program designed to cope with the grief & trauma; to help seek justice for their loved one's & to help survivors rebuild their lives.

http://www.victoriahomicide.com.au/index.html

Western Australia

Child Victim Witness Service

Phone (08) 9425 2850

Victim Support Service

www.justice.wa.gov.au/

The Victim Support Service, part of the Department of Justice's Court Services Division, offers a confidential service for victims of crime, and provides flexibility with professional counsellors, trained volunteers, and a network of information and service providers. The Victim Support Service can:
• provide information on the status of police investigations
• provide information about court proceedings
• help write a victim impact statement
• provide counselling and support either at home or at the office
• have someone support victims at court
• provide information about other services and refer you appropriately
• provide support when making an application for a restraining order
• help you understand your rights within the criminal justice system
• help with inquiries about criminal injuries compensation claims.

There are also part-time services in regional centres: Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Carnarvon, Derby, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoolie, Karratha, Kununurra, Northam, Peel and Port Hedland.

Phone (08) 9425 2850 or 1800 818 988 (outside metropolitan area).

Last Modified: 11 May, 2007
URL: http://www.voc.sa.gov.au