Communities and Justice

Assessor Client Claims

  • Victims Services provides support services, including counselling and financial assistance to victims of crime.

    DCJ Careers: Victims Services

    Victims Services provides support services, including counselling and financial assistance to victims of crime.

    Transcript

    (Three Victims Services staff sitting at a round table.)

    Alex, Assessor Client Claims: I am an Assessor Client Claims, and I work as part of the assessment team. I have a legal background. So I studied law at University.

    Kristy, Client Service Advisor: I'm a Client Service Advisor in the Victims Services redress team. My role involves coordinating, counselling and psychological care for victims of crime.

    (Victims Services staff speaking to a client in the office.)

    Kristy: I've worked Victims Services for eight years now. Originally, when I started, I didn't have any real work experience.

    (Victims Services staff speaking to a client on the phone.)

    Igor, Senior Client Liaison Representative: I'm a Senior Client Liaison Representative, and I'm the first point of contact for all our clients.

    (Victims Services staff speaking to a client on the phone.)

    Igor: I've working in Victims Services for approximately 11 years now. Initially, I started off working for an agency and then from there, I was recruited by Victims Services.

    (Igor speaking to a client on the phone.)

    Kristy: The fact that we make a difference for a lot of people in our community is something that I find really rewarding and self-fulfilling. Even if it's just one person, I know that I'm helping them out in some aspect of their Life.

    Igor: I really enjoy the job that I work in at the moment because I feel like I make a difference to the community.

    Alex: It really is touching to know that the work we do day to day is making, a dramatic change to these people.

    (Victims Services staff opening the doors to the Victims Services Office.)

    Igor: Victims Services we do provide our support for our victims of violent crime in New South Wales.

    Alex: Victims Services also acts as a liaison, of part of the family and friends missing person unit.

    (Victims Services staff discussing a missing person’s report file.)

    Kristy: We also have an approved counselling scheme. So we provide counselling to victims of crime, to I guess, help them, make it easier for their recovery.

    (Kristy and Igor walking in the office.)

    Kristy: I work in a really great team of staff members who support my career development always try to assist me in upskilling myself in certain areas.

    Igor: The good thing about Victims Services is that it does support its staff and those provide a lot of training to enable staff and empower staff to be able to do their work properly.

    Kristy: I came into this role, expecting there to be a lot of you know, horror stories and tears. But what surprised me the most the victims that I work with have a lot of resilience and that's something that I didn't expect, really inspired me.

    (Kristy, Igor and Alex discussing a report file.)

    Alex: You deal with people who have been severely traumatised, who've been through a lot of terrible things in their life. And I guess having empathy kind of really helps.

    Kristy: I've always had a passion for helping people. So, I thought that Victims Services would be a good human service agency to get into.

What's it like to work here?

“We make a difference for a lot of people in our community, it is something that I find really rewarding and self-fulfilling.”

- Kristy, Client Service Advisor, Victims Services

Role overview

The role of an Assessor is to review, assess, and determine applications made by the victims of violent crime in New South Wales who apply for the victims’ support.

Application decisions are determined in accordance with administration and common law principles, as well as Government policies, practices, financial budgets, and awards available to the eligible victim. Assessors also provide ongoing development and refinement of Victims Services policies, guidelines, and procedures.

Assessors deliver information and presentations to community groups about the Victims Services functions, procedures, and financial support as well as support other staff members with advice on legislative schemes and laws that apply to the Victims Services.

Key skills

  • ability to have considerable judgement in determining claims and advanced legal interpretation
  • keeping abreast of new developments and changes to legislation
  • balancing high volume and high turnover whilst ensuring high quality determinations
  • determining which matters have the potential to be politically or media sensitive
  • working independently while making significant decisions affecting people who have suffered trauma
  • accepting absolute responsibility for the decisions made
  • accepting that determinations will be held up to public and judicial scrutiny and criticism
  • using statutory discretion when weighing up the legislative provisions.

Role requirements

The necessary experience and qualities required for the role include a Degree in Law, Psychology or Social Work. Have a baseline security clearance or ability to obtain one within 3 months and be an Australian Citizen.

Additional information

Pre-employment checks

Pre-employment checks are a critical part of the Victims Services recruitment process and includes national criminal history check, fingerprint check and other reference and conduct checks.

Flexibility

Working a 35-hour week, Monday to Friday provides the flexibility to thrive at work, home and in the community. 

Training

On-going training and development helps the Victims Services staff grow in their role, improve their performance and develop new skills. 

About Victims Services

Victims Services, within the Department of Communities and Justice, administers the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013.

Victims Services provide access to counselling and financial assistance to victims of violent crime in NSW under the Victims Support Scheme, promote the Charter of Victims Rights and deliver related programs.

Last updated:

31 Aug 2023