Victims of crime will soon be able to receive an extra $25,000 under a revamped Victorian compensation scheme.
Victim Support Minister Enver Erdogan revealed on Thursday that the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) would be replaced by new online financial assistance scheme from November 18.
Primary victims will be eligible for up to $60,000 for lost income, medical, counselling and safety-related expenses, as well as another $25,000 in certain circumstances.
"The more heinous the violent crime, the larger the payment," scheme chief executive Marnie Williams told reporters at state parliament.
"These would be things like family violence or sexual offences."
Up to $50,000 will still be accessible for secondary victims, such as those injured at a crime scene, witnesses and family members.
Under the incoming system, the harmful practice of pooling $100,000 of financial assistance for families will be scrapped, with each family member able to apply for compensation.
Strict definitions around what constitutes a family member will be relaxed to include LGBTQI relationships, Aboriginal kinship relations and other family members.
People will have longer to make an application after becoming victims, with the standard deadline rising from two to three years and or 10 years for sexual or family violence cases.
In addition, victims will not have to go before the tribunal and can receive a recognition statement from the state acknowledging the trauma they have experienced.
"VOCAT operates out of the magistrates court and that can be quite confrontational, to be frank, because you might need to attend and face your perpetrator," Mr Erdogan said.
"We've heard from victims, especially of domestic violence and sexual violence, how difficult that can be, the anxiety.
"These are people that usually have suffered quite considerable physical, mental injuries as a result of the crime, and obviously going to an online-based system is just a lot easier and more straightforward."
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
