Support for Victims of Crime

The Commissioner for Victims of Crime has particular responsibility to ensure that both members of the public and government agencies are aware of the Victims of Crime Act 1994 and of their corresponding rights and responsibilities under that Act.

The Commissioner:

• Provides high level advice and expertise to the Director General and the Attorney General on issues surrounding victims of crime in Western Australia.
• Monitors and reviews the effect of all elements of the justice system on victims of crime with a particular focus on Police and court practices and procedures.
• Builds and sustains effective communication and working relationships with key stakeholders, victims of crime, government agencies and industry representatives.

The Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime can provide assistance with applications under the Historical Homosexual Expungement Scheme, Homicide Funeral Assistance Scheme and National Redress Scheme.

Contact the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime or see the Victims of Crime website for further information.

Victim Support Service is available from the Department of Justice’s Court and Tribunal Services Division.  The Service provides information and support to victims involved in the court system.  Please contact Victim Support Service or go to Victim Support Service (hyperlink to the courts page for victim support service) for further information.

Contact details

Victim Support Services
Level 2, District Court Building
500 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000

Phone: (08) 9425 2850 or 1800 818 988
Email: vss@justice.wa.gov.au

Child Witness Service is available from the Department of Justice’s Court and Tribunal Services Division.  The Service provides information and support to child witnesses who are involved in the court system.  Please contact Child Witness Service or go to Victim Support Service for further information.

Contact details

Child Witness Service
Level 2, District Court Building
500 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000

Phone: (08) 9425 2850 or 1800 818 988
Email: mbxcws@justice.wa.gov.au

Family Violence Service is available from the Department of Justice’s Court and Tribunal Services Division.  The Service provides information and support to family violence victims who are involved in the court system.  The Service is available to family violence victims who are involved in a Family Violence List or wish to make application for a Family Violence Restraining Order.  Please contact Family Violence Service or go to Family Violence Service for further information.

Contact details

Family Violence Service
Phone: 1800 600 476
Email: FamilyViolenceService@justice.wa.gov.au

A Victim Impact Statement tells the judge or magistrate about how a crime has affected you and may be taken into account when the offender is sentenced.

It is your choice whether you make a Victim Impact Statement. Throughout the court process, you can inform the court or prosecutor that you want to make a statement.  You also may be asked by the police, court or prosecutor if you want to prepare a statement.

For information and guidance about how to write and lodge a Victim Impact Statement, please refer to Victim Impact Statement

The Corrective Services Division provides mediation between victims and offenders through the Victim-offender Mediation Unit. The unit can advise victims on the offender's movement, release or escape from custody through the Victim Notification Register.

Criminal Injuries Compensation is available from the Department of Justice’s Court and Tribunal Services for eligible victims of crime who have sustained injury or loss as a result of an offence or alleged offence. 

Please contact Criminal Injuries Compensation or go to Criminal Injuries Compensation for further information for further information.

Contact details

Criminal Injuries Compensation
GPO Box F317
PERTH WA 6841

Phone: (08) 9425 3250
Email: criminal.injuries@justice.wa.gov.au

A reparation order may be made by a court on its own initiative or following an application from a victim or the prosecutor. 

Contact your nearest court for more details.

Applications for restraining orders can be made at any Magistrates Court.

If the respondent is a juvenile, an application for a restraining order can be made at the Children's Court. 

If the person seeking to be protected is a child and the respondent is not a child, the application can be made at either the Magistrates Court or the Children’s Court.  

If an urgent order is required and it is not possible to make an application to the court (for example, it is outside of court hours or you are in a remote location), WA Police can issue 72 hour police orders. Contact WA Police on 131 444 or 000 for emergencies. 

The NDVOS aims to strengthen the protection of victims of family violence by eliminating barriers to the enforcement of restraining orders. A person protected by a nationally recognised order can move between States and Territories without losing the protection of the order. The NDVOS also makes it easier for police to prosecute breaches where the victim and perpetrator are located in different states (eg where the breach occurs over the internet).

Orders that are recognised under the NDVOS can be enforced by local police across Australia. A person who breaches a recognised order will be penalised under the law of the State or Territory in which the breach occurred. All of the restraints included in a recognised order operate nationally. Once an order is nationally recognised, it remains nationally enforceable until it expires or is cancelled by a court.

To find out whether your WA restraining order is nationally recognised or to apply for a WA restraining order to be ‘declared’ to be a nationally recognised order, visit National Domestic Violence Order Scheme webpage.

For further information about the NDVOS and how to apply for national recognition of orders, see the Magistrates Court, Children’s Court  or the national NDVOS.