{"id":"sr:victims-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024","name":"Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024","slug":"victims-of-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":183825,"registerId":"vic-sr:victims-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 127/2024**\n\nVersion as at  \n18 November 2024\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Definitions 1\n\n5 Relevant offences 3\n\n6 Categories of acts of violence 4\n\n7 Minimum and maximum amounts of special financial assistance 4\n\nSchedule 1—Categories of acts of violence 6\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 11\n\n1 General information 11\n\n2 Table of Amendments 13\n\n3 Explanatory details 14\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 127/2024**\n\nVersion as at  \n18 November 2024\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to prescribe matters for the purposes of the **Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022**.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 73 of the **Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 18 November 2024.\n\n\t4 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***Aboriginal person*** means a person who—\n\n(a) is descended from an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander; and\n\n(b) identifies as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander; and\n\n(c) is accepted as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island community;\n\n***commercial sexual services offence*** means an offence against section 53H, 53K or 53L of the **Crimes Act 1958**;\n\n***elderly*** means—\n\n(a) in relation to an Aboriginal person, 55 years of age or older; or\n\n(b) in relation to any other person, 65 years of age or older;\n\n***impaired mental functioning*** means—\n\n(a) a mental illness within the meaning of the **Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022**; or\n\n(b) an intellectual disability within the meaning of the **Disability Act 2006**; or\n\n(c) an acquired brain injury; or\n\n(d) an autism spectrum disorder; or\n\n(e) a neurological impairment, including dementia;\n\n***intimate image*** has the meaning given by section 53O of the  **Crimes Act 1958**;\n\n***serious injury***  means an injury (including the cumulative effect of more than one injury) that—\n\n(a)  endangers life; or\n\n(b) is substantial and protracted;\n\n***sexual activity*** means an activity that is sexual within the meaning of section 35D of the **Crimes Act 1958**;\n\n***sexual assault*** means conduct that would constitute an offence against section 40(1) of the **Crimes Act 1958**;\n\n***sexual penetration***—see section 35A of the **Crimes Act 1958**;\n\n***sexual servitude*** ***offence*** means an offence against section 53B, 53C or 53E of the **Crimes Act 1958**;\n\n***specified victim*** means a victim who, on the date of an act of violence or the date of a criminal act forming part of an act of violence—\n\n(a) is under 18 years of age; or\n\n(b) is elderly; or\n\n(c) has impaired mental functioning;\n\n***the Act*** means the **Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022**;\n\n***threat to commit a sexual offence*** means conduct that would constitute an offence against section 43(1) of the **Crimes Act 1958**;\n\n***very serious physical injury*** means an injury constituted by actual physical harm that is permanent or of long-term duration and involves—\n\n(a) loss of a bodily function; or\n\n(b) disfigurement of a part of the body; or\n\n(c) total or partial loss of a part of the body; or\n\n(d) loss of a foetus; or\n\n(e) loss of fertility; or\n\n(f) infection with a life-threatening disease.\n\n\t5 Relevant offences\n\nFor the purposes of paragraph (g) of the definition of ***relevant offence*** in section 3(1) of the Act, an offence against Subdivision (8FAA) or (8FAAB) of Division 1 of Part I of the **Crimes Act 1958** is a prescribed offence.\n\n\t6 Categories of acts of violence\n\nFor the purposes of section 11 of the Act—\n\n(a) the prescribed categories of acts of violence are those specified in Schedule 1; and\n\n(b) the prescribed acts of violence and classes of acts of violence in a category of acts of violence are those specified in Schedule 1 for that category.\n\n\t7 Minimum and maximum amounts of special financial assistance\n\nFor the purposes of section 11 of the Act, the prescribed minimum and maximum amounts of special financial assistance in relation to each category of acts of violence are—\n\n(a) for an act of violence that consists of a single criminal act, the amounts set out in Table 1; and\n\n(b) for an act of violence that consists of a series of related criminal acts, the amounts set out in Table 2.\n\n**Table 1**\n\n| *Category of act of violence* | *Minimum amount for an act of violence that consists of a single criminal act* | *Maximum amount for an act of violence that consists of a single criminal act* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| A | $9334 | $20 000 |\n| B | $2600 | $6500 |\n| C | $1300 | $2600 |\n| D | $260 | $1300 |\n\n\n**Table 2**\n\n| *Category of act of violence* | *Minimum amount for an act of violence that consists of a series of related criminal acts* | *Maximum amount for an act of violence that consists of a series of related criminal acts* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| A | $11 668 | $25 000 |\n| B | $3250 | $8125 |\n| C | $1625 | $3250 |\n| D | $325 | $1625 |\n\n\nSchedule 1—Categories of acts of violence\n\nRegulation 6\n\n\t1 Category A acts of violence\n\nA category A act of violence is—\n\n(a) an act of violence that is an offence involving—\n\n(i) sexual penetration; or\n\n(ii) attempted murder; or\n\n(b) an act of violence that directly results in death; or\n\n(c) an act of violence—\n\n(i) that directly results in a very serious physical injury; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category B, C or D act of violence; or\n\n(d) an act of violence—\n\n(i) that consists of related criminal acts that occur in the context of a pattern of family violence; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category B act of violence; or\n\n(e) an act of violence—\n\n(i) that consists of related criminal acts that are acts of sexual penetration or sexual assault; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category B act of violence.\n\n\t2 Category B acts of violence\n\nA category B act of violence is—\n\n(a) an act of violence that is an offence involving—\n\n(i) attempted sexual penetration; or\n\n(ii) sexual assault; or\n\n(iii) non-fatal strangulation; or\n\n(iv) armed robbery; or\n\n(v) aggravated burglary; or\n\n(vi) aggravated carjacking; or\n\n(vii) aggravated home invasion; or\n\n(viii) home invasion; or\n\n(ix) kidnapping; or\n\n(x) deprivation of liberty of a person for the purpose of—\n\n(A) sexual penetration; or\n\n(B) demanding any ransom for their release; or\n\n(b) an act of violence that is an offence involving—\n\n(i) sexual activity with a specified victim; or\n\n(ii) administration of an intoxicating substance to a specified victim; or\n\n(c) an act of violence that is a sexual servitude offence; or\n\n(d) an act of violence that is a commercial sexual services offence; or\n\n(e) an act of violence—\n\n(i) that directly results in a specified victim—\n\n(A) suffering a serious injury; or\n\n(B) becoming a victim of related criminal acts; or\n\n(C) suffering a deprivation of their liberty; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category C or D act of violence; or\n\n(f) an act of violence—\n\n(i) that consists of related criminal acts that occur in the context of a pattern of family violence; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category C act of violence.\n\n\t3 Category C acts of violence\n\nA category C act of violence is—\n\n(a) an act of violence that is an offence involving—\n\n(i) an attempt to commit a category B act of violence (other than attempted sexual penetration); or\n\n(ii) a threat of death; or\n\n(iii) a threat to commit a sexual offence; or\n\n(iv) conduct endangering life; or\n\n(v) conduct inflicting serious injury; or\n\n(vi) robbery; or\n\n(vii) carjacking; or\n\n(b) an act of violence that is an offence involving—\n\n(i) sexual activity with a person who is not a specified victim; or\n\n(ii) administration of an intoxicating substance to a person who is not a specified victim; or\n\n(c) an act of violence—\n\n(i) that consists of related criminal acts; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category D act of violence; or\n\n(d) an act of violence—\n\n(i) in respect of which a person is a specified victim; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category D act of violence; or\n\n(e) an act of violence—\n\n(i) that consists of related criminal acts that occur in the context of a pattern of family violence; and\n\n(ii) that would otherwise be a category D act of violence.\n\n\t4 Category D acts of violence\n\nA category D act of violence is—\n\n(a) an act of violence that is an offence involving—\n\n(i) an attempt to commit a category C act of violence (other than an attempt to commit a category B act of violence); or\n\n(ii) a threat of injury; or\n\n(iii) production or distribution of an intimate image; or\n\n(iv) assault; or\n\n(v) attempted assault; or\n\n(vi) deprivation of liberty of a person other than for the purpose of—\n\n(A) sexual penetration; or\n\n(B) demanding any ransom for their release; or\n\n(b) an act of violence that is an offence against Division 4A of Part I of the **Summary Offences Act 1966**; or\n\n(c) an act of violence not otherwise specified as a category A, B, C or D act of violence.\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024, S.R. No. 127/2024 were made on 12 November 2024 by the Governor in Council under section 73 of the **Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022**, No. 21/2022 and came into operation on 18 November 2024: regulation 3.\n\nThe Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 12 November 2034 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"These Regulations implement matters authorised by the Act (made under s.73 and prescribing matters for s.11: reg. 2, reg. 6, reg. 7). They do not, on their face, expand or narrow the Act’s legal reach beyond what is authorised: they define terms, prescribe offence categories (reg. 5; Schedule 1) and set payment ranges (reg. 7). Financial liability falls to the Scheme (public fund) as established by the Act; the Regulations determine how that liability will be allocated across categories and cases, and impose administrative classification duties on decision‑makers (reg. 6, reg. 7)."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-references to other statutes (Crimes Act 1958; Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022; Disability Act 2006) for definitions and offences (reg. 4, reg. 5, Schedule 1).","Multiple layered definitions (e.g. 'specified victim', 'very serious physical injury', 'impaired mental functioning') that affect eligibility and category assignment (reg. 4).","Tiered categorisation of acts (Categories A–D) with many sub-clauses and exceptions that require factual characterisation by decision-makers (Schedule 1; reg. 6).","Separate payment scales for single criminal acts versus series of related acts, with explicit minimums and maximums in two tables—introduces arithmetic and legal thresholds for awards (reg. 7, Tables 1–2).","Differential age thresholds for 'elderly' depending on Indigenous status (reg. 4) which creates distinct eligibility lines.","Administrative discretion required to determine whether acts are 'related', part of 'family violence' patterns, or involve 'specified victims'—creates fact-finding and recordkeeping burdens (Schedule 1, reg. 6).","Sunset built into subordinate legislation (endnotes) and no listed amendments—implications for periodic review and legislative maintenance."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations set the rules for who qualifies for financial help under the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022: they define key terms, list prescribed offences and categories of violent acts, and fix minimum and maximum payment ranges for single incidents and series of related incidents. They affect victims (with special definitions for children, elderly and people with impaired mental functioning), determine how administrators classify incidents, and thereby shape the Scheme’s costs and administrative workload."},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available text, there is no indication of scope change from the original intent. The Regulations appear to serve their expected function as subordinate legislation implementing the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme, consistent with standard regulatory instruments of this type in Victoria."},"complexity_factors":["The document provided contains only structural metadata and version history — no substantive regulatory content was included, limiting analysis","Regulations of this type typically involve cross-referencing with the parent Act, adding moderate complexity for readers","Financial eligibility criteria and quantum (amount) provisions in victim assistance schemes can involve layered conditions","However, the overall purpose and audience of this type of regulation is relatively straightforward compared to commercial or tax legislation"],"plain_english_summary":"The Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Regulations 2024 set out the practical rules for Victoria’s scheme that provides payments to crime victims and eligible family members. They explain how claims are handled, what losses and harms can attract payments, and the procedures administrators must follow — determining who qualifies and how much they receive."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard regulations-making exercise under section 73 of the parent Act. It prescribes the specific matters (definitions, offences, categories, amounts) that the Act contemplated would be detailed in regulations. The scope remains tightly aligned with the Act's original intent to establish a financial assistance scheme for victims of crime."},"complexity_factors":["14 defined terms in the interpretation section, several of which cross-reference other Acts (Crimes Act 1958, Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022, Disability Act 2006)","Nested categorisation system (Schedule 1) with four tiers (A-D) and multiple 'escalation' rules that bump crimes up categories based on context (family violence patterns, victim vulnerability)","Dual payment tables (single act vs series of related acts) with 8 distinct monetary ranges","Multiple cross-references to specific sections of the Crimes Act 1958 (sections 35A, 35D, 40(1), 43(1), 53B, 53C, 53E, 53H, 53K, 53L, 53O)","Conditional logic in category definitions (e.g., 'would otherwise be category B but for...') creating interdependencies between categories"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation sets up the rules for how victims of crime in Victoria can get financial help from the government. It works alongside the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Defines who qualifies for extra help**: Special rules apply to vulnerable victims, including children under 18, elderly people (55+ for Aboriginal people, 65+ for others), and people with mental health conditions, intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, autism, or dementia.\n- **Lists the crimes covered**: It spells out exactly which criminal offences make someone eligible for financial assistance, ranging from serious crimes like murder and sexual assault down to assault and threats.\n- **Creates four categories of violence (A to D)**: Category A covers the most serious crimes (death, very serious injury, sexual penetration), while Category D covers less serious offences like common assault. The category determines how much money a victim can receive.\n- **Sets payment amounts**: It establishes minimum and maximum payments ranging from $260 up to $25,000, depending on the category of violence and whether it was a single incident or a series of related crimes.\n- **Recognises family violence**: Crimes happening as part of ongoing family violence get bumped up to a higher category, meaning victims receive more compensation.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Victims of violent crime in Victoria seeking financial assistance\n- The government agency administering the scheme\n- People applying on behalf of vulnerable victims (children, elderly, those with disabilities)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis turns the broad promises of the 2022 Act into actual dollar figures and specific rules. It ensures vulnerable victims get higher payments and recognises that family violence and sexual crimes cause lasting harm even when the individual incidents might seem \"less serious\" on paper."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/victims-of-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024","history":"/api/acts/victims-of-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/victims-of-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/victims-of-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/victims-of-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/victims-of-crime-financial-assistance-scheme-regulations-2024/documents"}}