Record whether a Victorian victims file is still with the old tribunal or the new scheme
MaintainedLast reviewed
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- From the old file, record the date the application was lodged, the body named on it, whether an interim or final award was made, and whether it was withdrawn and on what date. Do not say a fresh application is allowed.
- What the lawyer must review
- Decide which body still holds the file before any new application is discussed
- Use 18 November 2024 only for a Victorian file
- Treat a final award or a refusal by the old tribunal as blocking a scheme application for the same incident.
- Use a firm-controlled tool for health records. ASCR r 9, APP 11 and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) apply.
Rules that apply
The document starts from the task name. Change it if this piece of work is different.
The work product
Forum. Victorian Financial Assistance Scheme and the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal
Produce. A date note of lodgement, award and withdrawal, for the lawyer to decide which body holds the file.
Have ready. The old application and any award or withdrawal; The VOCAT applicants page; The date 18 November 2024.
Example of the limit. Illustrative example: An interim award had been made, and the application was withdrawn on 2 December 2024. The note records that date as after 18 November 2024 and stops. It does not prepare a scheme application.
Stop and hand it back when
- The lodgement date or the withdrawal date cannot be read from the file.
- There is an interim award and the question is outstanding future expenses.
Sources for this task were checked on 2026-10-23.
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Do not begin AI assistance until the responsible lawyer has defined and confirmed its permitted scope. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- The Financial Assistance Scheme has replaced the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for new applications. The tribunal has stopped taking new applications and now finishes pending ones. It holds documents for applications lodged before 18 November 2024.
- If there was no interim award, a withdrawal can still allow a scheme application. If there was an interim award, a withdrawal before 18 November 2024 can allow one, and a withdrawal after that date does not. The person may ask the tribunal to reinstate.
- If there was an interim award and the application was withdrawn before 18 November 2024, a scheme application is possible. If it was withdrawn after that date, the person is not eligible for the scheme and may ask the tribunal to reinstate. If the interim award is still on foot and the application was not withdrawn, the person is not eligible and the tribunal continues the file.
- A final award or a refusal means no scheme application for the same incident. New variations are decided by the scheme. The tribunal keeps a variation lodged with it before 18 November 2024. If the person was 18 or older when the final award was made, variation time is 6 years from receipt. If under 18, until they turn 24.
Sources
- Victims of Crime Victoria: Information for VOCAT applicants · 2026-10-23
- Victims of Crime Victoria: Request a review of an outcome decision · 2026-10-23
Transition where an interim award has outstanding authorised future expenses was described on the page only in outline. Read that page again before advising on those expenses.
A scheme decision, once the file is in the scheme, uses the review page. Do not send a scheme review back to the old tribunal.
Health records in the old file stay in a firm-controlled tool. ASCR r 9 and APP 11 apply, and a breach may be notifiable under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).