Free, nationwide support for people affected by crime and traumatic events.
We are here for you, 24/7.
We work in partnership with approved registered counsellors to provide counselling support to victims of some crimes.
Counsellors must be approved and registered with Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support before clients will be referred for counselling with you as a VAS registered counsellor.
If you are already registered to provide counselling services with Victim Support and you wish to register for rongoā services, you will also need to register separately as a rongoā practitioner. This is to ensure that VAS funded clients are clear about the different options available to them.
Please note, that counselling registration means that the individual who is registered can provide the services – not others who work within the same organisation.
There are five counselling schemes which are administered as part the Victim Assistance Scheme (VAS).
Fatalities: Available for family, whānau, close friends, prosecution witnesses.
Serious physical injuries: Available for primary victims and prosecution witnesses.
To provide services that are funded through VAS, counsellors (including psychologists and psychotherapists) must meet specified criteria to become a VAS registered counsellor.
You may only apply as an individual to be a VAS registered counsellor.
Criteria for becoming an approved registered counsellor for us includes:
Hold a current annual practising certificate (APC) with a recognised professional body such as NZAC/NZPA/ANZASW/DAAPANZ.
Student/Intern status is not accepted.
Undergo initial police vetting initiated by Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support.
If you are approved as a VAS registered counsellor, you must comply with the Terms and Conditions. These include:
Following the procedures in the "Information for Counsellors/Rongoā practitioners” which you will receive once registered
Continuing to belong to a professional body
Sending a copy of your new Practising Certificate each year
Only charging Victim Support the agreed fee and not making any additional charges to the client
Not exceeding the approved number of counselling sessions
Liaising with Victim Support employees on matters related to the administration of the VAS
Applications are processed as they are received and there is no closing date. It may take between 3-6 weeks to process your application due to the New Zealand Police vetting process and/or application volumes that require processing at Victim Support.
To apply, please complete the Counselling/Rongoā Practitioner Registration Form, attaching relevant documentation below.
A photocopy of your current practicing certificate is acceptable. We do not accept Student/Intern status.
If you have completed police vetting within the last 12 months, a copy of the result can be uploaded to the Counsellor Registration Form instead.
You must also provide evidence of your identity:
You must provide a photo ID, and a photo of you holding this ID.
