Victims of crime counselling in Byron Bay | NSW Victims Support Scheme

If something violent happened to you

You don't need to explain yourself. You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to have made a police report.

Here's the part that matters. The criminal justice system doesn't always deliver the outcome you deserve. Charges get dropped. Cases don't proceed. Courts don't convict. That doesn't mean it didn't happen. And it doesn't mean you can't get help.

The NSW Victims Support Scheme exists because the state recognises what happened to you, even when the courts can’t. If you've been affected by a violent crime in NSW, you may be eligible for free counselling.

The Victims Support Scheme

The scheme provides up to 22 hours of free counselling for victims of violent crime, modern slavery, and road crime that happened in NSW. In some cases, more hours may be approved.

Violent crime includes
domestic and family violence
sexual assault
physical assault
child abuse
modern slavery
road crime resulting in death
homicide

Who’s eligible

Primary victims
You were directly harmed by a violent crime.
This includes psychological harm, not just physical harm.

Secondary victims
You witnessed a violent crime
or you're the parent or guardian of a child who was the victim of a violent crime.

Family victims
You're an immediate family member of someone who died as a result of a homicide or road crime.

You don’t need a charge or conviction
You just need a police report. You don't need a charge. You don't need a conviction. The state is able to recognise what happened, even when the courts don’t.

No time limit
It doesn't matter whether it happened last month or thirty years ago.

Not sure if you’re eligible?
Phone Victims Services and ask.
Call the Victims Access Line (1800 633 063)
or the Aboriginal Contact Line (1800 019 123)
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

How to apply

Step 1. Make a police report
If you haven't already, report the crime to police. You'll need a police report reference number for your application.

Step 2. Apply to Victims Services NSW
Apply online at the Victims Services website.
If you need help with the application,
phone the Victims Access Line (1800 633 063)
or the Aboriginal Contact Line (91800 019 123)
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
They’ll talk you through the application.

Step 3. Wait for a Counselling Approval Letter
If your application is approved, you'll receive a Counselling Approval Letter. This letter has a reference number, which unlocks the funded sessions.

Step 4. Book with me
Get in touch with me and tell me the reference number that’s on your Counselling Approval Letter. We can usually get started within a week or two.

What therapy looks like

Same as with everyone else. One-on-one. Collaborative. At your pace.

For how I work with trauma, see this page.

Sessions are 50 minutes.
In person at my Byron Bay practice or by video link.

How often you come is up to you.
Once a week is a good starting place.
It can of course be less often if you’d prefer that.
You have 22 hours of counselling to use as you like.
That’s 26 sessions.
And if you need more, you can apply for additional hours.