Support for victims of crime

Being a victim of crime can be very distressing experience. Support is available to help you and your family through the incident and to recover from its affects.

Government and community organisations can provide a range of emotional and practical support, including information, advice and counselling, support if the case goes to court, help to pay expenses such as medical bills, and even emergency accommodation.

Reporting a crime to the police

If you are a victim of crime you should report it to the police as soon as possible.
Reporting the incident quickly can prevent valuable evidence from being lost or destroyed; however, if some time has passed since the crime—even months or years—you can still report a crime to the police.

You do not have to report the incident, but by doing so you may:

• help the police catch the offender
• prevent another person becoming a victim
• be able to claim financial help to pay bills resulting from the crime.

Don’t be afraid to go to the police; they will help you through what can be a very distressing experience.

If the crime has just happened and you need immediate police assistance you should call Triple Zero (000).

If you do not want to talk to the police straight away or you are unable to talk to the police, phone Policelink—the police contact centre—on 131 444 once you are able to. Policelink is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also go to your local police station or Police Beat to report what happened to you.

General services for victims of crime

Free counselling for victims of crime

Relationships Australia Queensland offer free counselling to anyone affected by a crime, including the victim, their family and friends and witnesses to the incident.

Phone 1300 139 703 or 1300 364 277 to find out about the services they can provide, or to make an appointment to see a counsellor.

Find out more about the support Relationships Australia provide to victims of crime.

If you are a victim of violent crime

Violent crime is particularly distressing for the victim and their family. Violent crimes are not just offences like assault, robbery and murder. Violent crime includes sexual assault or abuse, stalking and kidnapping, death caused by dangerous driving and violence that happens at home or in the family.

The victim is not just the person physically or mentally hurt in the crime but includes their family and witnesses to the incident.

Visit your doctor

If you are a victim of violent crime—either physical or psychological—you should visit a doctor as soon as possible; even if you have not reported the incident to the police.

The doctor will be able to record important evidence about the crime and what was done to you.

Your doctor can also complete a medical certificate—available from Victim Assist Queensland— confirming you were injured in an act of violence; you will need this if you want to claim financial help to recover from your injuries and the emotional effects of the experience.

You are a victim and a witness

As a victim of violent crime you are also an important witness. You may be able to help the police catch the offender; that is why you should always report the incident to the police as soon as possible.

As a witness you will be asked to make a witness statement—a written or recorded account of what happened to you.

Find out more about being a witness of crime.

If the police catch and prosecute the offender you may also be asked to provide evidence in court. You can also make a victim impact statement—a written description of how the crime has affected you physically, emotionally and psychologically—which may be taken into consideration by the Magistrate or Judge during sentencing.

Find out more about going to court as a victim of violent crime.

24 hour counselling for victims of abuse and violence

Lifeline Community Care Queensland can provide telephone counsellingat any time for victims of violence and abuse. Call Lifeline anytime on 13 11 14. Counselling services are available 24 hours a day.
Find out more about counselling services from Lifeline.

Sexual assault – Help and advice for victims

If you have been sexually assaulted recently or in the past you can get help and advice from the Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline1800 010 120. This is a free confidential service available 7 days a week from 7.30am to 11.30pm.

Children and young victims of sexual assault

Children and young people who have experienced or are at risk of sexual assault can get specialist support and counselling from Bravehearts. Call 1800 BRAVE 1 (272 831) and ask to speak to a qualified sexual assault counsellor. The Bravehearts helpline is available Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm

Find out more about the help and services available from Bravehearts.

Children and young victims of violent crime – Free 24 hour counselling

Kids Helpline provides free private and confidential counselling for children and young people who are the victims of violent crime including bullying.

You can call 1800 55 1800 anytime to talk to a counsellor, and if you don’t want to talk directly web and email councelling is also available.

Contact Kids Helpline.

Domestic and family violence – Help and advice for victims

Free help and advice for women, men and children affected by domestic and family violence is available from DVconnect.

DVconnect can also arrange secure housing for women and children in secret locations across the state.

The women’s help line is available 24 hours a day on 1800 811 811.

The men’s help line is open from 9.00am–12pm on 1800 600 636.

Contact DVconnect.

Support for victims of violent crime – Victim Assist Queensland

You may want to seek counselling, support or information following a violent crime. Victim Assist Queensland can put you in touch with specialist support services that can help you and your family recover. They can also provide financial assistance to help you recover from the physical and emotional effects of the crime by paying for things you need to get your life back on track, such as medical care and counselling or to pay other bills resulting from the incident.

Find out more about the support available to victims of violent crime.

To speak to an Victim Assist Queensland information officer on 1300 546 587 (1300 LINKUP). The Victims LinkUp support line is open Monday–Friday, 8.30am–5.00pm (except public holidays).

Financial help for victims of violent crime

You may be able to get help to pay bills resulting from the crime. Victim Assist Queensland can help pay for:

• counselling
• medical and dental care
• travel
• loss of earnings
• replacement of damaged clothing
• funeral expenses for a relative killed in a violent crime
• legal assistance to apply for financial support (up to $500)
• other exceptional costs such as crime scene clean up.

There is also financial help to cover immediate expenses resulting from the incident.

To get financial assistance you must:

• report the incident
• complete a Victim Assist Queensland Financial Assistance Application (Form 1) (PDF, 402.3 KB)
• complete the Funeral Assistance Application (Form 2) (PDF, 276.9 KB) if you are claiming funeral expenses of a relative killed in a violent crime
• attach a completed Victim Assist Queensland Medical Certificate (Form 3) (PDF, 130.5 KB)
• get the medical certificate (Form 3) completed and signed by your doctor or dentist
• provide bills and invoices you have payed as a result of the incident.

Find out more about the financial support available to victims of violent crime.

For more information about financial help speak to a Victim Assist Queensland information officer on 1300 546 587 (1300 LINKUP). Victims LinkUp support line is open Monday– Friday, 8.30am–5.00pm (except public holidays).  

Your rights as a victim of violent crime

As a victim of a violent crime you have certain rights about how you are treated by areas of the Queensland Government that provide services to you.

You should:

• receive fair and dignified treatment
• have your privacy maintained
• be given information about the services available to you
• be kept informed about the investigation, prosecution and conviction of the offender
• be advised about your role as a witness if the offender is to be prosecuted
• have minimal exposure to and contact with the offender
• be able to make a Victim Impact Statement if you want to.

These rights are based on the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.

If you feel your rights have not been upheld—or you have been wrongly or unfairly treated by anyone in the Queensland Government—you have the right to complain.

Find out more about victims rights.

Request Victim LinkUp information

1. Your details

   1. Name

      1. First name *
      2. Last name *
   2. Victim category * Select the category that best describes your situation

      • Primary—a person who dies or is injured as a direct result of an act of violence
      • Related—a person who is a close family member of, or a dependant of, a primary victim who has died as a direct result of an act of violence
      • Parent secondary—a person who is a parent of a child who in injured as a direct result of the act being committed against the child and is injured as a direct result of becoming aware of the act.
      • Witness—a person who witnesses a more serious (murder or manslaughter) or a less serious (all other acts) act of violence committed against someone else
   3. How would you like us to contact you? *

      • Phone
      • Email
      • Post
2. Crime details

   1. What was the act of violence? * Select one

      • Assault
      • Grievous bodily harm
      • Sexual offence
      • Burglary with violence
      • Attempted murder
      • Murder
      • Other
   2. The violence occured: * Select one

      • As a single event
      • Over a period of time
   3. Did the act of violence happen in Queensland? *

      • Yes
      • No
   4. What information do you need? * Select all that apply

      • Information on free and low cost counselling
      • Information on applying for financial assistance
      • Information on other victim support services in your area
      • Other

3. Submit your Victims LinkUp request and a member of the Victims LinkUp team will contact you within 3 business days.