Victims Assistance Program (VAP) is a voluntary program that provides confidential information, advice and supports for the needs that arise as a direct consequence of a violent crime including family violence, sexual assault, physical assault and homicide. VAP staff aim to assist victims to effectively manage and recover from the direct consequence of these crimes and tailor services to individual’s needs.
Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a violent crime, or who has had a relative die as a result of violent crime perpetrated in Victoria.
Victims of crime may experience a range of consequences including:
Windermere also employs Koori Engagement Workers who are available to provide confidential and culturally sensitive support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of crime in the community.
As such, there is no charge to you for participating in this program.
People eligible to access the VAP include primary, secondary and/or related victims of crimes against the person perpetrated in Victoria.
A primary victim is a person who is injured as a direct result of a violent crime or has been injured attempting to prevent, aid or rescue someone from a violent crime.
A secondary victim is a person who is injured as a direct result of being present at the scene of a violent crime and witnessing that crime or the parent/guardian of the primary victim who was under the age of 18 at the time the criminal act was committed.
Related victims are close family member, a dependant or someone with an intimate personal relationship of a deceased primary victim.
The service is available to residents located across Southern Metropolitan Melbourne and Gippsland in the following Local Government Areas.
Southern Metropolitan Melbourne:
Stonnington / City of Port Phillip / Bayside / Cardinia / Casey / Frankston / Glen Eira / Greater Dandenong / Kingston / Mornington.
Gippsland:
Bass Coast / Baw Baw / East Gippsland / La Trobe / South Gippsland / Wellington.
If you are unsure if you are eligible for this service, call the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817. The helpline is open 8 am to 11 pm, 7 days a week.
Or email for Southern Metropolitan Melbourne VAP at SouthernVAP@windermere.org.au or Gippsland VAP at gippslandVAP@windermere.org.au. Windermere is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
Laws governing the management of information about people involved in family violence, and the safety and wellbeing of children are changing. Part 5A of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) and Part 6A of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005(Vic ) with their supporting regulations, permit a number of organisations to share current and previously collected information relating to family violence risk and the wellbeing or safety of children – to keep people safe and perpetrators of violence in view. From 27 September 2018, Windermere will have a role under both schemes, along with a number of other agencies and their funded or contracted organisations.
More information about the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme is available on the Family Safety Victoria website
www.vic.gov.au/familyviolence/family-safety-victoria/information-sharing-and-risk-management.html
More information about the Child Information Sharing Scheme is available at
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