NSW VICTIMS SERVICES • LOCAL COUNSELLING
Victims Services counselling
in Wollongong and Dapto.
After violence or a crime, finding support can feel like one more thing to manage. This page explains the NSW Victims Services counselling pathway and how to take the next step towards one-to-one counselling with Isaac Bailey in the Illawarra.
How to get started01 / SUPPORT AT YOUR PACE
A place to begin,
without telling everything at once.
Counselling can offer space to talk about the impact of what happened, including changes in safety, trust, sleep, emotions or relationships. You do not need to share a detailed account in your first enquiry.
Isaac Bailey is an approved counsellor with NSW Victims Services and is accepting new Victims Services clients. The Studio offers one-to-one counselling for this service. You can ask about Wollongong, Dapto or online appointments. A suitable appointment time and your approved funding must be confirmed before booking.
Find Isaac in the official approved counsellor directory.
Read about Isaac’s professional background and approach. Suitability and practical arrangements are discussed before sessions are booked.
02 / APPROVAL AND FUNDING
Understanding funded counselling.
The NSW Victims Support Scheme offers counselling to eligible people affected by violent crime or modern slavery, and certain bereaved family members following homicide or road crime. Specific eligibility conditions apply. Victims Services decides eligibility and approves support; contacting the Studio does not itself establish eligibility or guarantee funding.
Eligible people can receive up to 22 hours of counselling. Further hours may be considered in some circumstances. This is an hours allowance, not a promise of 22 appointments.
Approved counselling is funded through Victims Services when you see an approved counsellor within your authorised support. It is separate from Medicare or private health insurance rebates. The Studio’s private-session fees and no-rebates information do not determine your scheme entitlement.
Before booking, confirm that your approval covers the proposed counselling and ask about the booking and cancellation arrangements that apply to funded appointments. Do not assume private-session cancellation fees apply. Do not assume that private sessions will be reimbursed later.
03 / A MANAGEABLE FIRST STEP
Ready to ask for an appointment?
Already approved for NSW Victims Services counselling? Follow these three steps. This is for one-to-one counselling with Isaac, not couples or family sessions.
- Have your approval number ready.
Your Victims Services approval number starts with 00. Copy the full number from your approval letter, including both zeros. If you cannot find it, check with Victims Services before completing the form.
- Complete one intake and confidentiality form.
The form asks for the information Isaac needs to consider a booking. It also explains confidentiality in easy English. Read each section and provide your own information. You do not need to provide information about children or partners.
Complete intake and confidentiality formOpens the Studio’s Victims Services intake and confidentiality form on Jotform. Completing it does not confirm a booking.
- Wait for a reply before making plans.
Isaac will review your information and confirm availability, whether the service is suitable for you, and your approved funding before a booking is made. Completing a form is not a confirmed appointment and does not guarantee funding or a booking.
Not approved yet?
Apply directly through NSW Victims Services. Its guidance explains eligibility, the application form and the current government-issued identification required. There is no time limit to apply for counselling support. The Studio cannot approve your application.
Read the official application steps.
Check NSW Victims Services counselling eligibility and support.
If you have a question before completing the form, send a brief enquiry. You do not need to describe the crime or send sensitive documents in a general enquiry.
04 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions before you begin.
Can I choose a local counsellor?
Once approved, you can contact a counsellor from the NSW Victims Services approved counsellor directory. Ask about suitability and current availability. If you are looking for support in Wollongong, Dapto or the wider Illawarra, you can enquire with Isaac about local or online arrangements.
Is approved counselling free?
You do not pay for counselling covered by your Victims Services approval when it is provided within your authorised support. Isaac will confirm your funding and booking arrangements before an appointment is booked. This does not mean private counselling is free or will be reimbursed by the scheme.
Is this the same as a Medicare rebate?
No. NSW Victims Services counselling is a separate approval and funding pathway. The Studio does not offer Medicare or private health insurance rebates.
What if I do not have approval yet?
Start with the official NSW Victims Services information and application process. The Studio cannot approve a claim. If you wish to discuss private counselling instead, read the private fees and session information and ask about suitability before booking.
What if I need to cancel?
Please give more than one business day’s notice if you need to cancel a funded Victims Services appointment. This is not the same as 24 clock hours: weekends and public holidays are not business days. You will not be charged a missed-appointment fee for this funded service. These arrangements are separate from the Studio’s private-session cancellation policy.
How long is each appointment?
Confirm the duration and booking arrangements for your approved Victims Services counselling before your first session. Scheme funding is expressed in hours, and private-session information should not be assumed to describe your funded appointment.
When support is urgent.
The Studio is an independent counselling practice, not NSW Victims Services. This website and its enquiry form are not an emergency or immediate-response service. If there is immediate danger, call 000.
Scheme information checked against NSW Government guidance on 1 November 2026. Eligibility, approvals and program rules are determined by Victims Services; consult the official information for your circumstances.