The new Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will commence on 18 November 2024 and is replacing the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT). Further information regarding the new scheme, eligibility, and the amount of financial assistance available can be located at www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/fas. We encourage you to speak with your legal practitioner prior to the FAS commencement. Alternatively, you may wish to contact the Victims Legal Service. Any request for withdrawal or variation of a VOCAT application sought before FAS commencement, should be made before COB (4pm) on 8 November 2024. The Tribunal must ensure all applications for withdrawal are considered and processed before COB (4pm) on Friday 15 November 2024.
The purpose of this Practice Direction is to specify the procedure to be followed when a request is made under section 42A of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996 to access information about an application for assistance; and/or documents contained on a Tribunal file. This Practice Direction introduces separate processes for requests which do not relate to Tribunal proceeding or relate to finalised applications.