Table S – Expert reports and court attendances by psychologists and psychiatrists in criminal matters

Table S – Expert reports and court attendances by psychologists and psychiatrists in criminal matters

Table S sets out the fixed fees payable by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) for expert reports and court attendances by psychologists and psychiatrists in criminal matters.

These fees are effective from 1 January this year. For fees payable prior to this see Archived versions of the Handbook.

Service provided Fee payable for psychologist Fee payable for psychiatrist
Assessment and report with jail conference $766 $862
Assessment and report without jail conference $672 $766
Treating expert report $429 $521
Supplementary report $376 $473

Evidentiary report to establish:

  • an evidentiary basis for a defence (for example, mental impairment, absence of intent)
    or
  • an evidentiary issue (for example, fitness to plead, a review or leave application).

Before the assisted person incurs the fee, there must be explicit factual material which confirms a reasonable expectation of an organic psychiatric condition.

 $1013 $1013
Attendance at metropolitan court – half day, including travel $473 $576
Attendance at regional court – half day, including travel $672 $766
Non-attendance fee $76 $103

Practitioners can claim these fees using ATLAS or submitting a tax invoice.