Support for family members of a road crime victim

We understand losing a family member to a road crime is a traumatic and painful experience. If you are a family member of someone who has died as a result of a road crime in NSW (a road crime victim), you can apply for counselling through the Victims Support Scheme.

What is a road crime?

A road crime is an act or series of acts involving a motor vehicle, that caused the death of the road crime victim, where either:

•  a person is charged with committing a crime in relation to that act, or 
•  charges cannot be laid because the person responsible cannot be identified, or
•  charges cannot be laid because the person responsible has also died.

If a person is charged with murder in relation to the road crime victim’s death, or the act is declared a terrorist act, the road crime victim’s family members may be eligible for support as the family member of a homicide victim. For more information about the support available to family members of a homicide victim, see Support for family members of a homicide victim.

If you would like to discuss your situation or need advice about your eligibility for victims support, please call the Victims Access Line on 1800 633 063 or the Aboriginal Contact Line on 1800 019 123.

What support is available?

Up to 22 hours of counselling is available for family members of someone who died as a result of a road crime that occurred on or after 1 February 2023. Additional hours may be approved if requested.

If the road crime occurred before 1 February 2023, counselling may be approved in exceptional circumstances.

Who can apply?

Family victims and related family members of a road crime victim can apply for counselling.

A family victim is an immediate family member of a road crime victim, including a:

• current spouse
• current de facto partner who was living with the victim when they died and had been living with them for at least 2 years
• parent, step-parent or guardian
• child, step-child or guardian child
• brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister.

Related family members include grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws.

How long do I have to apply?

There is no time limit to make an application.

What do I need to apply?

• A completed Application for Counselling for a Family Member of a Road Crime Victim (PDF, 691.1 KB).
• A clear copy or image of your current government-issued identification, such as a driver licence, passport, Medicare card or Centrelink card. Visit Supporting documents to see a list of identification documents we accept.

If your application is approved 

If your application for counselling is approved, you can use our search tool to find an approved counsellor that's right for you. 

Approved counsellors are qualified and experienced health professionals that deliver counselling under the Victims Support Scheme. 

Visit Find an approved counsellor  to search the list of approved counsellors by their location, experience, languages spoken, gender and the type of consultation they offer, including online, video and phone consultations.

You can contact them to request an appointment or to find out more about them. You need to provide them with your name and Victims Services reference number, and let them know if you need an interpreter.

Important information about victims support

Some people are not eligible for support, even if they are a victim of crime. 

Under section 25(3)(b) of the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013, a family member of someone who died as a result of a road crime cannot be approved victims support if the person who died committed the road crime.  

For more information on persons who are not eligible, see section 25 of the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013.