At Mindstate Psychology, we understand the profound impact that being the victim of a criminal act can have on your mental health. If you have suffered emotional or psychological harm as a result of a crime, you may be eligible to claim compensation through the WA Government's criminal injury compensation scheme.
A Criminal Injury Compensation Report is an independent psychological evaluation that assesses the emotional and psychological harm experienced by a victim of crime. This report plays a crucial role in supporting applications for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, as administered by the Department of Justice in Western Australia.
If you’ve been the victim of a criminal offence in Western Australia, you may be entitled to financial assistance under the crime compensation scheme. This scheme is designed to compensate victims who have suffered bodily harm, mental or nervous shock, or have experienced financial loss as a direct result of an offence committed.
In most cases, victims can apply by submitting an application form to the Office of Criminal Injuries, where a criminal injuries compensation assessor—sometimes overseen by the Chief Assessor or the District Court—will determine the outcome. Our psychological reports play a key role in documenting the injuries suffered, emotional trauma ("nervous shock"), or other psychological impacts.
Although this is not compensation in the same way a civil claim might be, it offers a path to acknowledge and support the pain, suffering, loss, and loss of life that victims endure. If your application is rejected or partially approved, there may also be a right to appeal. In some situations, such as exceeding the time limit, you may be required to seek leave to continue the process.
Our team at Mindstate Psychology is here to assist with high-quality reports and counselling services, ensuring your application is supported by thorough, trauma-informed assessments that align with the requirements of the Attorney General’s office.
If you have been the victim of a crime and have experienced significant psychological distress, trauma, or mental health issues as a result, you may be eligible to apply for compensation. This includes victims of physical assault, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes that have led to psychological harm.
Compensation can cover various aspects, including:
Compensation can also be provided to close relatives of individuals killed in Western Australia due to a criminal injury to assist with funeral expenses.
A psychological report can assist in substantiating claims and providing an expert assessment of the psychological damage endured.
Mindstate Psychology provides comprehensive psychological assessments for individuals seeking criminal injury compensation. Our highly qualified psychologists are experienced in working with trauma victims, offering a compassionate and thorough approach to ensure an accurate reflection of the psychological impact you have experienced. The report will cover:
At Mindstate Psychology, we are committed to providing empathetic, professional services tailored to the unique needs of each client. With extensive experience in both forensic psychology and trauma-informed care, we ensure that our reports meet the legal and evidentiary requirements needed for successful compensation claims.
Our highly experienced team trains psychologists across Australia, so you can be confident that our psychologists are up to date with the latest knowledge and evidence-informed practice.
No, Mindstate Psychology accepts both self-referrals and referrals from criminal injury compensation lawyers. If you are self-represented, our supportive reception team will be able to help you through the report process.
Please note that if a lawyer is involved in your matter, we prefer to take instructions directly from them to simplify the process.
While a lawyer is not required to submit an application, they have a much better understanding of the law and application process and can apply it to your unique situation. Mindstate Psychology is not a legal service and cannot provide legal advice.
We always recommend consulting with a lawyer or community legal service. Criminal injury compensation lawyers are available.
Costs for a criminal injury compensation report vary depending on the complexity of the offence and resulting injury. We can provide a quote to prepare a psychological report to support your application.
Please ensure you provide us with the following:
Yes, if you are applying through the Office of Criminal Injuries, they may approve an interim payment to cover the costs of the report.
Please note that at Mindstate Psychology, the costs for the report are generally in excess of the interim payment, so you may need to pay a gap up front. If your application is approved by the Criminal Injury Commission, you can reclaim the additional assessment costs from your final settlement.
The amount of compensation payable depends on the extent of your injuries and losses you have suffered. The maximum compensation that may be awarded also depends on the date of the offence.
The maximum possible amount that you can be awarded is $75,000 for a single offence and $150,000 if one offender committed multiple offences against you.
