What is WAS?

2 people next to each other. 1 of them is wearing a tie.

The Witness Assistance Service (WAS) is a support service for victims of crimes that have happened in NSW.

A person stealing something from someone else's pocket.

In this document, we say ‘victims’ when we talk about people who a crime happened to.

We know that some people choose other words.
A person speaking into a microphone iin a courtroom.

WAS supports some people who have to go to court.

This includes:
A person looking upset and holding their hand to their forehead.
  • people who are a victim of a crime and need to tell the court what happened
A mother sitting next to their son and holding their hand.
  • people who are a family member of a victim of a crime.
2 people sitting at a table and talking.

WAS also supports some witnesses of crime.
A close up of an eye.

A witness is a person who saw a crime happen.

They can share what they saw or heard to the court.
The Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Island flag above a safety icon.

WAS provides culturally safe support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of crimes.

A person raising their hand. There is a smiling face and a safety icon above them.

When something is culturally safe, people feel:

  • respected and heard
  • safe to be who they are.
A group of people from different backgrounds.

WAS can also support multicultural people who are victims of crimes.

Multicultural people:

  • come from different backgrounds
  • speak languages other than English.
A website icon.

You can find out more about WAS on our website.

www.odpp.nsw.gov.au/publications/all