Victims of Crime NT funds on a thin line

Funding for services at Victims of Crime NT is running on a very thin line following a spike in demand for services.

Victims of Crime NT have experienced a spike in demand for support services.

Funding for services at Victims of Crime NT is running on a very thin line following a spike in demand for services.

Victims of Crime NT CEO Melinda Fleming said there has been a spike in demand for all services from November through to January and the organisation is working on making current funds last.

“We are going to be making a number of operational changes for our financial support services in order to make those funds go further and last until the end of our funding agreement,” she said.

“Our funding agreement is until the 30th of June this year. We are making sure we have funding to last for that period.

“We had a recent spike in demand that has been evident across the Territory, but it’s been more so in Alice Springs.

“If the recent spike becomes the norm and consistent, we will definitely require more funding in the future.”

In their last annual report, Victims of Crime NT reported a significant increase in workload to assist people in the community who have been affected by crime financially and emotionally.

“There has been a large amount of work on governance issues, organisational restructuring, reviewing programs, piloting new programs and negotiating new funding agreements,” the report stated. Victims of Crime NT provides information, crisis counselling and referrals for other support services to any crime victim. The agency also assists in the preparation of documentation such as victim impact statements and applications for financial assistance under the Crime Victims Assistance Act.

“All services are in demand, most particularly resecuring vehicles and security improvement programs,” Ms Fleming said. “Victims of Crime are here to support anyone impacted by crime and we can do that in a range of ways.”

According to the 2019 Victims of Crime NT annual report, 644 core services were delivered, 157 businesses were resecured and 399 homes were resecured. 5585 volunteer hours were contributed in 2018-19. Victims of Crime NT can be contacted on a free 24 hour line at 1800 672 242.