Last updated 12 September 2018

The Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 (Qld) identifies four main categories of victims (s 26).

Primary victim

A primary victim is a person who has been harmed as a direct result of an act of violence committed against them.

Related victim

A related victim is a close family member or a dependant of a primary victim who has died as a result of an act of violence.

Parent secondary victim

A parent secondary victim is a parent or guardian injured as a direct result of finding out about an act of violence committed against their child under the age of 18. This may include the victim’s parents, carers, step-parents, co-parents, foster parents, kinship carers, or any other person responsible for the day-to-day care of the child. However, it does not include a person acting in place of a parent on a temporary or short-term basis.

Witness secondary victim

A witness secondary victim is a person injured as a direct result of witnessing (seeing or hearing) an act of violence.