From 1 July 2026, the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) has updated its guidelines, and a few of the changes are worth knowing if you see clients through the scheme.
The biggest change for practice: interim counselling has doubled from five sessions to ten. Clients can now access more support from you while they wait for a final decision on their application, rather than stopping at five.
The counselling expenses payment schedule has been indexed, and new FAS payment rates now apply. The current figures are set out in the updated guidelines.
The FAS has added a new section on integrity and information consistency as well, covering how it handles those matters, including referrals to professional bodies or Victoria Police where needed.
The updated guidelines apply from 1 July 2026 and replace the May 2026 version. You can read them in full on the FAS Guidelines page.
18/06/2026
16/06/2026
15/06/2026