Victims Assistance and Counselling Program (VACP)

Practical assistance and support for victims of violent crimes that can also include access to specialised trauma counseling.

Have you or someone close to you been the victim of a violent crime? If so, you may be experiencing different reactions to this. Such reactions can include feeling afraid, unsafe, angry, confused, upset, depressed or numb. You may be finding it hard to cope with day to day problems, as well as worrying about work, school, study or family responsibilities.

The VACP provides practical support and counselling to help you and your family cope with the effects of being a victim of violent crime. The VACP also provides support to the family members, dependents, and partners of people who have died as a result of an act of violence.

If you are in need of assistance please call the intake worker on (03) 9480 6166 or email VACPintake@mchs.org.au

 

VACP can help people recover from trauma in several ways. For example, by supporting people to:

• Re-establish safety
• Regain power in their lives
• Reconnect with family, friends, and their community

 

The VACP also helps people with:

• information and guidance about potential compensation available from VOCAT.
• support through the justice process

 

Services

Case management
Our case management service provides practical support to assist you in your recovery, for example by providing:

• Information about financial assistance and compensation available to victims of crime.
• Assistance organising a VOCAT application.
• Advocacy 
• Information about your rights as a victim
• Information about police and court procedures
  We can also refer you to other services that can help you including;
  • Counselling and support 
  • Legal and court advice 
  • Housing services 
  • Health services 
  • Financial advice and support 
  • Family support 
  • Domestic violence services 

 

Counselling

The VACP counselling service provides:

• Short to medium term counselling
• Integrated counselling and practical support service
• Preparation of VOCAT reports
• Education about the impact of crime

Community Education
VACP values informing the community about services available to them and has an active community education strategy.

 

Eligibility
Women, men, young people and children who live, work, or study in the North Metropolitan area (Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra.)

All people who have been affected by crime are welcome to call the intake service and are eligible for practical support.

To be eligible for counselling, an individual must have experienced a violent crime in Victoria within the last two years. The crime needs to have been reported to police, or in the case of family violence, an Intervention Order or a Family Violence Safety Notice issued.

If you do not meet these eligibility criteria, our intake service can provide information about where you can access counselling and support.

 

Related program

North-West VACP

The NW-VACP is run jointly between Merri Community Health Service (North) and Western Region Health Centre (West). The program is funded by the Department of Justice and targets the Northern Metropolitan Region (municipalities of Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra) and the Western Metropolitan Region (municipalities of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham).

 

Tip sheets

• Case Management service
• Children & trauma
• Compensation
• Counseling
• Self care
• Trauma
• Unreported crime
• Victim impact statement

 

 

Other useful contacts

• Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault (Northern CASA)
  9496 2240
• CASA House (03) 9635 3610
• Berry Street Victoria- Family Violence North-West        (03) 9450 4700
• Domestic Violence Resource Centre (03) 9486 9866 
• Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service of Victoria (24 hours) (03) 9322 3555 or 1800 015188
• Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service (03) 8413 6800
• Men’s Referral Service 1800 065 973 
• Police 000 
• Lifeline 131 114 
• Witness Assistance Service (03) 9603 7422 or 9603 7811 or 1800 641 927Victorian Legal Advice Line (03) 9269 0120 
• Court Network (03) 9603 7433 or 1800 681 614 
• Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (03) 9628 7855 
• Legal Online - Information for Victims of Crime 
• Child Witness Service (03) 9603 9266 
• Victims Support Agency (03) 8684 6700
• Victims Helpline 1800 819 817