State government to spend $2m on free counselling for victims of nonviolent crime

In a first for Queensland, victims of nonviolent crime will be able to access a fund dedicated to counselling, a move welcomed by advocates who have been pushing for change for more than two years.

Victims of nonviolent property crime can now access free counselling services through UnitingCare after the state government announced a $2m funding deal.

The money will be spent over four years and covers situations like burglaries where the occupant was not at home or while the resident was sleeping but wasn’t disturbed.

Victims will be provided counselling, information, advice, and referral to other relevant organisations where appropriate.

While this type of support has been in place for victims of violent crime, extending the offer to cover non-violent offences is a first for Queensland.

It is something victims of crime have been asking for since Queensland’s youth crime rate spiked in 2022.

Ken Cunliffe helped establish the Voice of Victims group in Toowoomba and now sits on the Queensland government’s Youth Justice Strategy Reference Group.

He welcomed the announcement.

“The amount of funding, the breadth of the funding and what it covers is secondary to the recognition that victims of non-violent crime matter,” he said.

“I have written to the Director General of the Department of Youth Justice to ask if data will be kept about the number of victims who used the service, the number of times police refer victims to the service and how many people from one household use it.

“I would also like to see a post-counselling survey of the victims and the counsellors to see how effective it was.”

The announcement follows a $16m pledge in the 2024-25 Queensland budget to expand the Victims of Crime Community Response program.

This program was stood up after serious, violent crime such as the alleged stabbing death of Vyleen White at Redbank Plains and alleged shooting death of Natalie Frahm at Mackay, to offer emergency counselling.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the government was listening to victims.

“My heart goes out to anyone who has been a victim of a crime,” she said.

“I know from my own personal experience what it feels like to have been targeted and how it affects your life.

“We know that crime can have a profound impact on a person’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

“So it’s important not only to hold offenders to account, but also to ensure victims are supported.”

Originally published as State government to spend $2m on free counselling for victims of nonviolent crime