Victims Assistance Program (VAP)

Program provider

Anglicare Victoria (AV)

Program name

Victims Assistance Program

Service provided

VAP provides services tailored to the individual needs of victims of violent crime. The aim is to assist victims to effectively manage the damaging consequences of violent crime and to minimise the secondary victimisation sometimes associated with involvement in the criminal justice system processes. Its role is to assist victims to manage the short and medium term consequences of being a victim of crime.

The VAP aims to meet three objectives:

• Providing quality services that meet the practical, emotional, and psychological needs of victims;
• Preparing victims and supporting them to navigate the criminal justice system; and
• Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with people and agencies (for example, police, courts, VOCAT, Health and Community Service professionals, etc) to assist the delivery of seamless services to victims.

For more information go to:

• https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/
• https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/our-services/financial-counselling/victims-assistance-program/

Eligibility Criteria

People eligible to receive VAP services include victims of violent crimes against the person perpetrated in Victoria. A victim is anyone that has suffered harm because of a criminal act. That harm can be physical injury, emotional trauma, or financial loss. A victim may include those directly affected by crime, or their families and friends. It also includes witnesses to a crime and relatives of a person who dies as a result of crime.

Referral pathway

Ring AV on (03) 5440 1100 or e-mail VAP@anglicarevic.org.au