Victims of crime waiting for up to two years for compensation after spike in applications

Queensland’s victims of crime are waiting on average about 300 days to get financial help for a range of crucial expenses, with one application taking a whopping 865 days.

Queensland victims of crime are waiting on average more than 300 days to get the financial help they need for a range of crucial expenses following their encounter with criminals.

One application, which was approved this year, took as long as 865 days to be assessed before the funds were finally given to the victim.

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General says the 2017 inclusion of all types of domestic and family violence in the Victim Assist compensation scheme has resulted in a surge in applications.

In 2021-22, Victim Assist Queensland fielded 4,929 applications for assistance, which was 90 per cent more than what was recorded in 2016-17.

A spokesman for the department said the increase in applications had led to “significant backlog” in requests waiting to be assessed and an extension in wait times.

“The average wait time for financial assistance increased each year from 2017 and reached 14.5 months in 2021-22,” the spokesman said.

“In 2022, VAQ implemented extensive reforms to enhance efficiencies across the organisation, including streamlining assessment processes which reduced wait times.

“By 28 February 2023, VAQ had reduced the average wait time further to 10.3 months (310 days).”

Queensland’s victims of crime are waiting a long time for compensation payouts after a surge in applications.

The compensation can be used for a range of costs, such as medical, counselling, legal, and travel expenses – as well as to cover loss of earnings or damaged clothing.

The scheme is currently being probed as part of a parliamentary Legal Affairs and Safety Committee inquiry into the support given to victims of crime.

The longest time someone waited before their financial assistance application was approved this year was 865 days – which is more than two years.

The department would not say what the application related to, citing laws that ban Victim Assist Queensland from disclosing applicants’ information without their consent.

The department’s spokesman acknowledged there had been an increase in wait times, and said they understood this could frustrate victims.

“We want to reassure Queenslanders our number one priority is to reduce the average wait time for assistance,” the spokesman said.

“In 2020, VAQ introduced a new model for assessing financial assistance applications.

“Since then, VAQ has continued to undertake significant reform work to streamline administration of the scheme.”