Victims Services Counselling
Being impacted by a crime can be a terrifying experience and it can cause related ongoing physical and psychological effects. It is for this reason that the New South Wales Government created Victims Support for those individuals who have experienced violence during their lifetime. Getting the help you need is an important step towards psychological and physical rehabilitation.
Best Therapy is an approved Victims Services Counselling service. We offer both telehealth and face-to-face consultations. Any counsellors who deliver Victims Support services go through an application and approval process with numerous requirements. Therefore, you can be assured that we have the experience and expertise to help you.
Approved counsellors can provide counselling services to a victim of violence on a short-term basis (up to 22 hours), which can be further extended in exceptional circumstances, or if the client is a victim of child sexual assault or child abuse, with an aim to help the client recover from the emotional trauma and impact that the crime has had on them. This counselling support is free to the victim.
To be eligible for Victims Services support, you must have experienced an act of violence in New South Wales. This includes sexual assault and/or family and domestic violence. There does not need to be a charge or a conviction against the perpetrator. Support is available for primary, secondary, or family victims.
Primary victim
A primary victim is a person who was injured, either psychologically or physically, because of a violent crime, or someone who gets injured while trying to stop violence from taking place, or someone who is injured while coming to the rescue of a victim of a violent crime.
Secondary victim
A secondary victim is a person who was injured as a direct result of witnessing a crime that was violent, or it could be a parent or guardian of a child who has been injured as a direct result of becoming aware of the violent crime.
Family victim
The family victim is the immediate family of a homicide victim. This could include a spouse, siblings, step-siblings, children, parents/guardians, or a de facto partner who has lived with the victim for 2 years.
As of 1 January 2022, Victims Services support extends to those affected by modern slavery in NSW.
How do I go about receiving Victims Support?
Am I eligible for support?
To be eligible for Victims Support, you must be either a primary, secondary, or family victim. This applies to primary victims of modern slavery as well.
Is it too late for me to get support?
There is no time limit to apply for Victims Support after the crime. You can still get help even years after the incident!
Where do I apply for support?
If you are a primary or secondary victim applying for counselling support only, click here to be directed to the NSW Victims Services application form.
If you are a family member of someone who is a victim of crime, click here to be directed to the application form for family members.
More information regarding application forms can be found on the NSW Victims Services website.
Identification requirements
You will need to provide a form of government-issued ID (i.e, driver’s licence, passport, Medicare card etc.).
How long does the application take?
Your application may take up to 2 working days to be processed. You will receive a letter from Victims Services regarding the outcome of your application.
How do I book an appointment with Best Therapy?
You can email us besttherapy.com.au to book a Victims Services counselling session. We will discuss your options with you and allocate you to our Victims Services approved counsellor. We’ll just need your Counselling Acknowledgement Letter from Victims Services to commence counselling sessions.
NOTE: Online bookings for VS NSW approved cases can be made directly online 24/7. Please click here. *Conditions do apply (please email for further information), and approval must be provided before first bookings can be approved and locked in and slot guaranteed.