By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.
Key points
- Victim Assist Queensland pays financial assistance to victims of acts of violence committed in Queensland. No one needs to be charged or convicted.
- Up to $120,000 for a primary victim (the person injured), plus up to $500 for the legal costs of applying, since 8 December 2023.
- Others: parents of injured children up to $75,000; witnesses $75,000 where the act caused a death, otherwise $20,000; the family of a person killed up to $75,000; funeral costs up to $15,000.
- A fixed special assistance payment for primary victims: $15,000, $9,000, $6,000 or $3,000 by type of violence. Domestic violence is $9,000.
- Apply within 3 years (a child victim, by 21). Report it to police, or for sexual offences, domestic violence and child victims, to a doctor, counsellor, psychologist or domestic violence service.
- Urgent costs: up to $6,000 before the final decision. Review: within 28 days, then QCAT.
- For a lawyer, call 1800 577 015 at any hour: free general legal information, and a 60-minute consultation with a Queensland lawyer for a fixed $295.
In Queensland, a person injured by an act of violence committed in Queensland can be granted up to $120,000 in financial assistance by Victim Assist Queensland, plus up to $500 for the legal costs of applying, and must usually apply within 3 years of the act.
Checked on 23 October 2026 against the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 (Qld, reprint current as at 2 September 2024), Victim Assist Queensland's own pages, QCAT and the support services' own pages.
Who can apply, and how much
| Who | Meaning | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Primary victim | The person who was injured, or died, as a direct result of the act of violence committed against them | $120,000, plus up to $500 for the legal costs of applying |
| Parent secondary victim | A parent (including a step-parent, an approved carer or a person with a parenting order) of a child primary victim, injured as a direct result of becoming aware of the act | $75,000, plus up to $500 legal costs |
| Witness secondary victim, where the act was murder, manslaughter, unlawful striking causing death or dangerous driving causing death | A person injured as a direct result of witnessing the act (seeing or hearing it) | $75,000 (less any funeral assistance), plus up to $500 legal costs |
| Witness secondary victim, any other act of violence | As above | $20,000 (less any funeral assistance) |
| Related victim | A close family member (spouse, child, parent or step-parent, sibling or step-sibling) or a dependant of a primary victim who died | $75,000 (less any funeral assistance), plus up to $500 legal costs |
| Funeral assistance | Anyone who pays, or will pay, for the funeral of a primary victim | $15,000 for each person who died, shared if several people claim |
A person can be granted assistance in only one of these roles for the same act of violence (funeral assistance aside).
What the money covers
- Counselling (up to 12 sessions; more needs a comprehensive clinical report), medical costs, the cost of reports, and travel to treatment of at least 20 km.
- Lost earnings of up to $20,000 in the 2 years after the act of violence.
- The clothing worn at the time.
- Other expenses, such as relocation or security, only in exceptional circumstances.
- Special assistance, a fixed amount set by the type of violence (table below), for primary victims.
- For a related victim: counselling and medical costs, up to $20,000 of the money the person who died would have given them in 2 years, and up to $15,000 for distress.
- Urgent costs before the final decision: interim assistance of up to $6,000, asked for in the main application. It comes off the final grant, and must be repaid if the application is refused.
- Legal costs: up to $500 for the cost of applying (advice on applying, completing the form, or representation in applying).
Costs must be reasonable, and are paid once Victim Assist receives an invoice or receipt. The assistance is not meant to match the damages a court could award.
Special assistance: the fixed payment by type of violence
| Category | Amount | Examples of the act of violence |
|---|---|---|
| A | $15,000 | Attempted murder; rape; incest with a child under 16 or a person with impaired capacity |
| B | $9,000 | An attempt at a category A act; a sexual offence; grievous bodily harm; armed robbery or robbery with violence; burglary with violence; torture; kidnapping; domestic violence |
| C | $6,000 | An attempt at a category B act; serious assault; robbery; unlawful wounding; assault occasioning bodily harm |
| D | $3,000 | Any other act of violence, such as assault, stalking or deprivation of liberty |
A category B, C or D act can be paid at a higher category if the injury was very serious, or the victim was under 16, over 60 or had impaired capacity in some cases. A series of related acts is paid once, at its highest category.
What is not covered
- Violence outside Queensland: apply in the state where it happened. Where you live does not matter; the act must have been committed in Queensland.
- Property crime, accidents and fraud are not covered (ConnectCare offers counselling after non-violent property crime: 1800 574 066).
- The person who committed the act, or someone whose own criminal activity was the only or main reason for it, cannot be granted assistance. Conduct that contributed to the injury can reduce the amount.
- No report (see below) without a reasonable excuse, or failing without a reasonable excuse to give police reasonable help that prevented an arrest or prosecution.
- Work-related violence: finish any workers' compensation claim first; you then have 3 years after that claim is finally dealt with to apply (before 21 if you are a child then). Motor vehicle injuries: the application waits until the compulsory third party claim is finished.
- A second application for the same act of violence is refused.
Time limits
| Who | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Most victims | 3 years after the act of violence |
| A victim who was a child | 3 years after turning 18 (Victim Assist says: until you are 21) |
| A related victim | 3 years after the death |
| Funeral assistance | 3 years after the death |
Victim Assist can extend the time if it considers that appropriate and desirable, having regard to matters such as the person's age, any impaired capacity, whether the offender was in a position of power, influence or trust, and the effect of the violence. A refusal to extend can be reviewed.
Reporting the violence
- The act must have been reported to police, unless there is a reasonable excuse.
- For a "special primary victim", a report to a counsellor, psychologist, doctor or domestic violence service is enough. That covers victims of sexual offences and domestic violence, child victims, people with impaired capacity, people being threatened or intimidated, and cases where the offender was in a position of power, influence or trust.
- No arrest or conviction is needed for violence after 1 December 2009. Victim Assist decides on the balance of probabilities.
How to apply
- Online for primary and related victims. Parent and witness secondary victims use the PDF forms (form 8 for parents, form 9 for witnesses).
- Email VictimAssist@justice.qld.gov.au, or post to Victim Assist Queensland, GPO Box 1452, Brisbane QLD 4001.
- Phone 1300 546 587, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm.
- What to send: proof of identity, documents about the crime or your injuries, and receipts or invoices for expenses. Expenses are claimed on "Part B" forms after the main application. Victim Assist may ask your doctor or counsellor for its own medical certificate or reports, and can get police and Queensland Health records with your consent.
- How long it takes: no time is set. Victim Assist says it may take many months to assess an application. Payments reach your bank 5 to 10 business days after the remittance email.
- Help with the form: VictimConnect (1300 318 940) can help you complete the application.
Reviews and appeals
- Before refusing or reducing a grant, Victim Assist must invite your comments and give you at least 28 days.
- Internal review: apply within 28 days of the decision, stating your reasons in detail (the time can be extended). The review is decided within 42 days.
- The tribunal: after the internal review, you can ask the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT, 1300 753 228) to review it, generally within 28 days.
- Changes later: a grant can be increased if your circumstances change, within 6 years of the grant (or before a child turns 24).
Other money, and the offender
- Your right to sue is not affected, but damages, compensation, restitution, insurance and workers' compensation you receive reduce the assistance, and for 6 years after a grant you must tell Victim Assist within 28 days of receiving such a payment. National Redress Scheme payments do not reduce it.
- The State can recover what it paid from a person convicted of the offence, after their appeal rights end, if it acts within 6 years.
- Lump sums for children are paid to the Public Trustee of Queensland.
What has changed
On 8 December 2023 every maximum rose (primary victims from $75,000 to $120,000; parents, witnesses of a death and families from $50,000 to $75,000; funeral costs from $8,000 to $15,000), the special assistance amounts rose, and domestic violence moved up to category B. The new amounts apply to applications that had not been decided by then. A Bill introduced on 16 September 2026 would add a victims' advocate service from 8 December 2026; it does not change the amounts or time limits.
Free help in Queensland
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Victim Assist Queensland | 1300 546 587 | 9am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday |
| VictimConnect (support, help with the application, court support) | 1300 318 940 | 24 hours, 7 days |
| DVConnect Womensline | 1800 811 811 | 24 hours, 7 days |
| Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline | 1800 010 120 | 7:30am to 11:30pm, 7 days |
| Women's Legal Service Queensland (free legal helpline) | 1800 957 957 | 9am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday |
| knowmore (free legal help for survivors of child sexual abuse) | 1800 605 762 | 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday |
| 1800RESPECT (national) | 1800 737 732 | 24 hours, 7 days |
How Go To Court Lawyers can help
Our free line, 1800 577 015, answers at any hour. Jen, our AI legal information assistant, gives general legal information and takes your details; Jen is not a lawyer and does not give advice about your case. A 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in Queensland is a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person where the lawyer offers it. The lawyer can advise on your application, the evidence and reports to gather, your options if you are out of time, and any other claim you may have against the offender or an insurer. Victim Assist can repay up to $500 of the legal costs of applying. Requests are taken at any hour; how soon a lawyer can see you depends on who is available. Request a $295 consultation.
General information only, not legal advice. Updated 23 October 2026. Checked against the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 (Qld), reprint current as at 2 September 2024 (and the reprint current as at 1 December 2023, to date the 8 December 2023 changes), Victim Assist Queensland's pages on the Queensland Government website (updated 4 August to 14 October 2026), the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VictimConnect, DVConnect, Queensland Health, Women's Legal Service Queensland and knowmore, on 23 October 2026.