Support for victims of crime

• Funding for support services
• Victims LinkUp
• Search for support services in your area
• Referring victims to support services
• Adult sexual assault
• Child safety services
• Hospital and doctor services
• Queensland Health State Wide Sexual Assault Helpline
• Legal assistance
• Victims LinkUp information and referral service

Funding for support services

Funding of up to $100,000 (GST exclusive) is available through Victim Assist Queensland under the Building Capacity for Victims of Crime Services Funding Program.

This one-off funding is available to non-government, not-for-profit organisations or local government, to improve services that help victims of crime get their lives back on track.

The program complements other Victim Assist Queensland initiatives such as the Victims of Crime Services Funding Program.

Victims LinkUp service

Victims LinkUp provides an information and referral service for victims and their families. We can put victims in contact with support services that will meet their individual needs. Victims LinkUp can also provide information on financial assistance.

Through Victims LinkUp the Queensland Government are committed to making it easy for victims and their families to find what they need quickly and simply.

This website forms part of Victims LinkUp, alongside our 1300 LINKUP (1300 546587) telephone service. Anyone is welcome to use these services.

The Victims LinkUp telephone service (1300 546587) is available from 8.30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday except public holidays. Callers will speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable information officers who will do all they can to answer any enquiry, carry out a referral or provide the caller with the information they need.

Search for support services

You can search for information about many support services by their location within Queensland on this website. All services we use receive funding from one or more government agencies and so most are available at no cost or limited cost to victims.

To find support services available in Queensland by location, click on an area on the map of support services, or click on the links below the map taking you to your area.

Support services are available to assist victims of crimes including domestic violence, sexual assault, assault and homicide.

There are also services listed which cater for specific groups such as children and young victims, woman, men, people with an impaired capacity, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims and victims from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Information available includes how each service can help a victim and their family and how you can contact their service.

If you would rather speak directly to a Victims LinkUp information officer please call 1300 546 587. This telephone service is available between 8.30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

Referring victims to support services

Victims LinkUp can contact a support service on behalf of the victim if they request this service.

To arrange this service, simply call Victims LinkUp (1300 546 587) and speak to an information officer. The information officer will collect some details from the victim or the person calling on their behalf so that they can help find the best support service for their needs in their local area.

Victims LinkUp can provide the following assistance to victims who wish to be referred to a support service:

• Victims LinkUp can contact the support service/s by telephone and introduce the victim to the support service via a three way telephone conversation.
• Victims LinkUp can email a support service and arrange for them to contact the victim directly at a time that suits the victim.
• Victims LinkUp can provide the victim with details of the support service and the victim can contact the support service in their own time when they are ready to do so.

Police services

Emergency

For life threatening matters or reporting a crime in progress dial triple zero (000).

Reporting a crime to the police

Victims of crime (other than special victims) must report the act of violence to a police officer in Queensland before they can make a claim for financial assistance. This is required so that Victim Assist can make a decision about whether an act of violence has occurred.

Other than for emergencies the crime can be reported to the police by the victim or someone acting on behalf of the victim by contacting a police station. A police officer will then take a statement from the victim.

Locations of police stations in Queensland

You can search for police stations in your area on the Queensland Police Service website using the Queensland Police Service.

Adult sexual assault

The Queensland Police Service has adult sexual assault information, including a list of support services for adult victims of sexual assault.

Child safety services

If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services.

During normal business hours contact 1800 811 810 for assistance to locate your nearest Child Safety Service centre. Child Safety Service centres have professionally trained child protection staff who are skilled in dealing with information about harm or risk of harm to children.

After hours and on weekends contact the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre on 1800 177 135 or (07) 3235 9999. The service operates 24 hours a day.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger or in a life-threatening situation, contact the Queensland Police Service immediately by dialling 000.

Visit the Child Safety Services by visiting their website.

Hospital and doctor services

Hospital emergency departments

If an ambulance is required for life threatening matters dial triple zero (000).

For information about hospital emergency departments in Queensland go to the Queensland Health website.

For health advice and information that does not relate to an emergency call the 24 hour/7 days helpline run by Queensland Health on 13 43 25 84 (13 HEALTH). You can search for hospitals and emergency department locations and contact details on the Queensland Health webpage.

Finding a General Practitioner (Doctor)

To claim financial assistance a victim must have a medical certificate that has been completed by a registered doctor or dentist to confirm that an injury has occurred as a result of the act of violence.

The medical certificate form and guidelines for completing the form can be found under the forms and publications section of this website. The medical certificate form needs to be handed to a doctor (or dentist if injury is related to dental) to be completed and then attached to an application form by the applicant.

A victim can visit any doctor they choose. If you need help finding a doctor in your area, you can search the list of registered doctors and dentists all on the Queensland Health website.

State Wide Sexual Assault Helpline

Queensland Health operate a state wide sexual assault helpline that can put victims of sexual assault in contact with support services Queensland wide (open 7:30am to 11:30pm, 7 days a week). Call 1800 010 120.

The Queensland Health - sexual assault provides a contact list of Queesnland Health funded sexual assault services. Free counselling is available for adult victims of sexual assault throughout the State.

Legal assistance

Do I need legal assistance to apply for financial assistance?

A victim of crime does not have to get legal assistance to apply for financial assistance under Victim Assist Queensland. Applying for financial assistance is designed to be simple so that most victims can complete an application without a solicitor to assist them.

A victim may decide however, that they do want legal assistance because their case is not simple and they need help or advice when making certain decisions.

Victim Assist Queensland can pay up to $500 to cover legal fees if a financial assistance claim is successful.

What legal assistance is available to victims of crime?

Government-funded Legal Services

• Legal Aid Queensland can provide victims legal information at no cost. For more information on their services visit the website or phone 1300 65 11 88.
• Community Legal Centres in Queensland can provide legal services at no cost to the public. For more information about their services and locations, visit the website.

Women's Legal Service

Women's Legal Service is a specialist community legal centre run by and for women. The service provides free legal information, advice and referrals throughout Queensland.

General Advice Line:

1800 677 278 (Regional)
07 3392 0670 (Brisbane)
Mon to Fri 9.30 am - 1.00 pm
and Mon, Wed, Thurs 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

Rural Advice Line:

1800 457 117
Tues 9.30 am - 1.00 pm

Queensland Law Society

If a victim decides that they need to use a private solicitor for legal assistance, the Queensland Law Society can provide a list of firms in Queensland dedicated to working for victims of crime. For more information and to search for a solicitor in your area, visit the website.

Law firms are also listed in the Yellow Pages.

Victims LinkUp information and referral service

Victims LinkUp is provided to answer general questions on how to apply for financial assistance.

Information officers cannot give legal advice but they can give information on what makes a person eligible to apply for assistance.

To speak to an information officer call 1300 546587 from 8.30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays).