We offer trauma-informed counselling and psychology sessions to folks who have been a Victim of Crime in Victoria.

The FAS is a program run by the Victorian Government to help cover costs for victims of crime, including for therapy expenses with an accredited mental health practitioner. To learn more about the FAS, click here or consult legal aid, as this page won’t give you comprehensive information about the scheme itself and how to apply. This page is only intended as a guide to help you understand our processes.

How we can support you

We can support you for sessions at any point in your application process, however, it’s important to know that until you receive an interim or final award, you will have to pay our usual rate out of pocket for sessions. As a community non-government funded organisation, we unfortunately can’t cover your sessions while you wait for your award.

Coming to us during your application process

1. This can be self-referral or a referral from a Victims Assistance Program case worker.

2. Reach out to us on admin@theicebergfoundation.org or 03 8374 7777 to let us know you’d like to book in with one of our counsellors or psychologists, and that you are in the process of applying for the FAS.

3. Our clinical team will match you up to a clinician who might be the best fit and set you up with a free 30 minute meet-and-greet.

4. After that you, can either wait for your interim award funding to come through (if your solicitor is applying for this on your behalf), wait for your final award, or pay out of pocket in the meantime.

5. If paying out of pocket, you can work with one of our psychologists under a Mental Health Treatment Plan to help with the cost, and we have concession rates if you have an eligible concession card.

6. We are unable to write a report funded by FAS as part of your application unless they have pre-approved it. If you or your solicitor do need documentation completed by your practitioner, you can request one as per our standard report/letter writing rates.

Once your award comes through (or if you already have an award)

You will often work with your solicitor on your application to FAS. Once a decision has been made, you’ll receive an award which is a letter stating what FAS will pay for or reimburse. This will be on their official letterhead.

Please let us know once you have received this. We’ll need two important pieces of information from this document:

• Your application number. This will start with IA-

• The number of counselling sessions you’ve been awarded

From the date of the award, we can then start invoicing FAS directly in accordance with their fee schedule (this will differ from private fee) on your behalf if you wish.