Fees
VLA funded clients presenting with violent or sexual offending, complex psychopathology, cognitive deficits, or personality disorders will incur a $1,500 fee (inc GST) to allow for an extended clinical interview of up to three hours and administration of additional specialised testing.
This ensures that such complex cases are given due consideration, and are supported by comprehensive reports that appropriately address all mental health factors relevant to defence, sentencing, risk and rehabilitation.
A detailed quote will be provided to the referrer to support the VLA application for non-standard disbursement.
Referral process
SC Consulting accepts referrals for all reports types and criminal offences. At a minimum it will be necessary to indicate the type of report sought, provide client’s contact details or CRN, and submit preliminary brief(s), charge sheets, and criminal priors. Often this is all that is required to accept the referral and schedule the assessment. However, any prior psychological reports and MHARS summary reports are welcome, as are Letters of Instruction.
Once the referral is accepted an assessment will promptly be scheduled and confirmation will be emailed to the referring source. Out of custody clients will be requested to attend their law firm’s offices for a videoconference assessment. Clients requiring full intellectual testing for the purposes of a formal diagnosis of Intellectual Disability will need to attend SC Consulting Melbourne office in person.
Reports are typically produced within two weeks of accepting the referral, but can be submitted sooner when necessary and requested at the time of making the referral.
Fees
Both VLA and privately funded referrals are accepted.
Fee for privately funded reports is $2,500 (inc GST) and is payable at least 24 hours before the scheduled assessment.
Whilst SC Consulting accepts VLA matters, the standard scheduled VLA fees are reserved for simple matters that do not involve violent or sexual offending and the client does not present with complex psychopathology or cognitive deficits.
All cases where the offending involves violent or sexual elements, multiple matters, complex psychopathology, cognitive deficits, or personality disorders will incur a 1,500 (inc GST) fee and will require an application to VLA for non-standard disbursement. An itemised quote will be provided to the referrer.
The onus is on the referring source to report any concerns about cognitive deficits, reduced intellectual capacity, or complex psychopathology at the time of making the referral. The higher fee associated with such reports allows for resources to accommodate extended clinical interview and testing necessary to provide a comprehensive report that appropriately addresses the client’s mental health, risk and protective factors relevant to defence and sentencing.
