Our Criminal Injuries Compensation program supports victims of crime in Western Australia. The service helps individuals who have suffered physical or psychological harm and, in case of bereavement, their close relatives—by guiding them through the application process under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 2003.
The scheme is available to many victims of crime, including Family and Domestic Violence, and is available to:
Primary victims of a criminal offence committed in Western Australia (post-22 January 1971) who have suffered physical injury, psychological injury, pregnancy, and/or incurred financial loss as a direct result
Close relatives of victims who have been killed as a result of an offence in WA, and who have suffered injury (e.g., post-traumatic stress) and/or financial loss such as funeral costs or loss of financial support
The offence must have occurred in WA and been reported to the police within a reasonable time—failure to report or assist may reduce or invalidate the claim unless a good reason is shown
You don’t need the offender to be charged or convicted; even “alleged offences” may qualify
Claims must generally be lodged within 3 years of the offence (or last of multiple offences); late applications may be accepted in exceptional circumstances
Compensation is not available for motor vehicle accidents (unless the vehicle was used in a crime) or purely property loss—the scheme covers personal injury and related losses only
Assistance includes securing compensation for pain and suffering, medical and travel expenses, loss of earnings or earning capacity, damage to certain personal items, and funeral costs when applicable. The Criminal Injuries Compensation team will listen to your story and advise on whether or not your claim has merit, and roughly what you can expect to receive. The lawyer then coordinate with applicants to prepare forms, collect medical and police reports, and lodge claims—helping navigate eligibility rules such as time limits, prior compensation sources (e.g., workers’ comp or Medicare), and reporting requirements —ultimately empowering crime victims to access deserving financial redress with professional, compassionate assistance.
WA Police – Apply for a Criminal Injuries Compensation Report – get your incident and victim-statement reports from WA Police Force Western Australian Government
Go to Court– Criminal Injuries Compensation in WA – explains claim eligibility, what’s excluded, and documentation required Legal Aid WA
Western Australia Office of Criminal Injuries Compensation (OCIC) – detailed info on eligibility, application process, and how the tribunal functions Criminal Injuries Compensation
Legal Aid WA – Compensation for victims of crime – practical advice, common scenarios, and referral options Community Legal WA
