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Request counselling recovery expenses

Request counselling expenses in relation to your financial assistance application.

On this page

In short

You can request counselling recovery expenses to treat:

  • psychological injuries or adverse impacts caused by violence
  • pre-existing conditions made by worse by the violence.

You must submit your completed application online or by email. See How to request recovery expenses for the full application process.

Start the online form

What you should know

There are requirements you must follow to lodge a request for recovery expenses.

  • Complete Part A: Application for financial assistance for victims of crime online form or a paper form.
    • If a Part A or paper form has already been completed for this act of violence, you do not have to complete another one.
  • Only request counselling for psychological injuries or adverse impacts directly caused by the act of violence.
  • Use an approved health practitioner for counselling. See Approved health practitioners in the Help centre.
  • Provide receipts, invoices or treatment plans from your psychologist or counsellor, including details of Medicare or insurance contributions.
    • You can claim up to 12 counselling sessions. If more sessions are required, your health provider will need to provide a comprehensive clinical report.

You can only apply for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare, private insurance or other government agencies.

Not all counselling costs will be covered. See Guideline for determining financial assistance for medical and counselling expenses.

Update your request for recovery expenses

Email VictimAssist@justice.qld.gov.au if you need to make changes to your request for recovery expenses at any time.

Who can apply

You can only request counselling expenses if you:

  • are the victim of an act of violence that happened in Queensland
  • are the parent of a child who was a victim of an act of violence that happened in Queensland
  • are the witness to an act of violence in Queensland
  • are a family member of a person killed by an act of violence in Queensland
  • have an injury from the act of violence
  • have, or someone else has, reported the act of violence.

Who cannot apply

You cannot apply if you are claiming:

  • counselling if it is not related to the act of violence
  • counselling for conditions that were not caused by the act of violence, unless the violence made a pre-existing condition worse
  • costs covered by Medicare, private insurance or other government agencies (e.g. Queensland Health, WorkCover, NDIS)
  • for missed or cancelled appointments
  • counselling provided by someone who does not meet the approved provider requirement.

How to request recovery expenses

Choose how to request and follow the steps.

How long it takes

It may take many months before Victim Assist Queensland is able to assess your recovery expenses.

If we require further information, we will contact you directly.

Once you receive an email remittance with the amount that will be paid, it will be deposited into the requested bank account within 5–10 business days.

You can check the status of your application using the application status checker.

From the Help centre

Find answers to frequently asked questions about services, including:

Proof of identity documents for victims of crime

Supporting documents for victims of crime

Request information from Victims Assist Queensland

Resources for victims and service providers

Find more in the Help centre.

Last updated:
4 August 2026