• Counselling for Victims of Crime

    Cathie is an Approved Counsellor for Victims Services NSW

    Victims of crime in Queensland and Victoria can see Cathie for victims counselling, who is as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker

    Am I eligible for Victims of Crime counselling?

  • Choosing Cathie to Support Your Recovery

    Cathie is trauma-trained and experienced victims of crime counsellor with over 10 years experience working with victims of human rights violations and crime

    Cathie's Experience Working with Victims of Crime

  • NSW: Victims Services NSW

    For victims of crime approved to receive counselling under the NSW Victims Support Scheme

    FIND OUT MORE

  • QLD: Victim Assist

    For victims of crime with prior approval for counselling expenses.

    FIND OUT MORE

  • Vic: Financial Assistance Scheme

    (Previously VOCAT)

    Victims of crime awarded recovery expenses for counselling sessions, can be seen for counselling and if required, reports

    FIND OUT MORE

Eligibility for Victims of Crime Counselling

Persons who have been injured, experienced, or witnessed a violent crime in NSW, Victoria and Queensland may be eligible to receive assistance through the respective state’s established victims of crime support schemes. Persons eligible may be:

  • person who was injured as a direct result of a violent crime including those who prevented or tried to help a victim of a violent crime (also known as a “primary victim”)

  • person who was injured as a direct result of witnessing a violent crime including a parent, step-parent or guardian who has been injured as a direct result of learning that their child was injured by a violent crime (also known as a “secondary victim”)

  • an immediate family member of a person who died by homicide (also known as “family victim”)

For further information about eligibility, conditions and application to be approved to access this assistance, please see the respective state’s victims support services:

Finding the right and suitably qualified trauma therapist to support your recovery after being a victim of crime can be difficult.

Click below to find out more about Cathie’s experience or how Cathie supports people’s recovery as a victim of crime

Victims Services NSW

Eligible persons approved for counselling through the Victims Services NSW gives you access to 22 counselling sessions. Further hours can be requested and subject to approval by Victims Services NSW for exceptional circumstance or if the person was a victim of child sexual assault or child abuse.

What to Expect

Making an appointment with Cathie for counselling under Victims Services NSW

To access counselling through the Scheme, a person needs to receive approval for counselling from Victims Services NSW.

Once approval is available, a person can see any of the Victims Services Approved Counsellors.

Victims Services NSW requires counsellors to request and be assigned to a client before the first appointment. It can take up to 1 week for Victims Services NSW to approve and assign a client to a counsellor. If there is an urgency to be seen for counselling, please let Cathie know and where possible, Cathie will advocate with Victims Services to have the assignment done as soon as possible.

To arrange an appointment, contact Cathie to provide your details and a tentative appointment will be made at least 1 week after contact, this will allow for the approval process to take place. Cathie will confirm the appointment date and time once the approval from Victims Services NSW is received.

Cathie can provide in-person, video (online) and phone counselling sessions.

Counselling sessions under this Scheme

Counselling sessions are focused on the crime experienced and the direct and indirect impact this has had.

It is not uncommon that persons eligible for this service may have been victim-survivors of other traumatic and distressing events and that these experiences may have been directly or indirectly triggered or brought up and may be discussed in the course of counselling.

Note: Cathie is trained in EMDR and this trauma treatment may not be available depending on a person’s legal and investigative process and situation. Discuss with Cathie for further information

An Experienced Trauma and Victims of Crime Counsellor

Experience in working with victims of crime

For the last 10+ years, Cathie has provided trauma counselling and treatment and supported people’s recovery from human rights violations and crimes.

Cathie has experience working with victims of crime of:  

  • Domestic and family violence - current, recent and historic

  • Sexual assault - recent and historic

  • Physical assault - recent and historic

  • Survivors of attempted homicide

  • Family of homicide and persecution

  • Historic child sexual abuse

  • Historic child abuse

  • Human rights violations including persecution due to religious beliefs, gender, sexuality, and political opinion

To find out more on how to choose the right counsellor check the FAQ

Trauma recovery for victim-survivors

Healing from trauma is a deeply personal journey. Whether the crime you experienced was recent or in the past, recovery is shaped by many factors, including:

  • The Crime Itself – The nature, duration, and circumstances of the crime, including who committed it and the support available at the time.

  • Your Individual Experience – Your past experiences, coping strategies, strengths, and the support systems around you.

  • The Impact – How the crime has affected your sense of self, identity, relationships, safety, and overall view of the world, along with any losses or changes you’ve faced.

Cathie works with you where you are at and provides compassionate, tailored support to help you:

  • Rebuild a sense of safety and emotional stability

  • Reduce the impact of trauma on your daily life

  • Process your experience in a way that feels right for you

Learn more about Trauma Counselling & Therapy Cathie.

QLD Victim Assist & Victoria Financial Assistance Scheme

Cathie is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, a recognised profession to provide victims of crime services by Victim Assist (Queensland) and Financial Assistance Scheme (Victoria, previously known as Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal).

Victims of crime in Queensland or Victoria with prior approval/awarded victims support, can access services which include:

  • victims of crime counselling

  • related reports eg. comprehensive clinical reports, counselling report and progress reports

The number of sessions/counselling hours approved differ for each state, for further information please see under the respective state’s victims of crime schemes.  Further sessions beyond the approved hours generally require a counselling report to be provided that outlines the need for further counselling.  

For more information about applying for victims of crime counselling please contact the respective state’s victims services:

For those with approved hours, and you would like to enquire about or make an appointment, please contact Cathie to discuss your counselling needs.