Eligibility, injury and healing: exploring culturally appropriate compensation for First Nations victims of crime in Western Australia

This article canvasses three specific issues affecting First Nations applicants for criminal injuries compensation in Western Australia, which have broader application to issues arising in other Australian jurisdictions. First, we consider the question of eligibility for compensation of 'close relatives', noting the effect of restricted legislated kinship definitions on those who assume parental responsibilities. Second, we canvass a novel proposal to formally acknowledge shame as an element of compensable claims and finally we consider the role of healing in the First Nations community as an element for consideration in assessment of claims.