Table OO – VLA rates for reimbursement of authorised disbursements/expenses

Expense	Reimbursement rate
Interstate travel	Cheapest, non-flexible economy-class airfare and the taxi fares to and from airports. Where the person is flying on the morning of the court proceedings, Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) will pay for a flexible departure airfare. Car expenses and train fares may be claimed in special circumstances only. For example, if a witness dislikes air travel or if several witnesses can travel together.
Travel within Victoria	If public transport is available, then economy-class air or train fare and the bus fares to and from airports. Public service rates for car expenses for professional witnesses or if several witnesses can travel together. Public transport only for travel from a hotel to the court. Taxi fares for travel from a hotel to court cannot be claimed.
Living expenses, including payments for: bed meals incidentals, including travel to and from court.	Necessary subsistence will be allowed. Receipts may be required by VLA showing actual expenditure when making a claim.
Payments to professional witnesses in civil matters	To each, an allowance for the time lost from their place of work. For example, their surgery, if the professional witness is a medical practitioner. The allowance will be the amount set out in the appropriate court scale. However, if the court scale does not include such an allowance, then VLA will pay the amount set out in the Supreme Court scale.
Non-professional witnesses in civil matters	To each, an allowance according to the Supreme Court scale. However, non-professional witnesses cannot claim: damages for loss of business or loss of profits caused by their absence from their usual work the cost of employing babysitters during their absence.
Expert reports and court attendances by psychologists and psychiatrists in criminal matters	Fees in accordance with the fixed fees set out in Table S. However, in exceptional circumstances, the fees may be increased.
Expert reports and court attendances in family law matters	Fees in accordance with the fixed fees set out in Table Q. VLA expects assisted people to get family reports from the Court Counselling Section, unless it is impractical or inappropriate. However, in exceptional circumstances, the fees may be increased.
Interpreters	Reasonable interpreter fees are payable without prior approval.
Translations	Where it is necessary for a document to be translated VLA will approve reasonable fees for translation.
Printing of brief/depositions from disc	Printing must be necessary and there must be more than 2000 pages to print. VLA will only pay for pages in excess of 2000. The lawyer must obtain approval in advance from VLA. Payable up to 15c per page.

Documentary requirements

Where a practitioner is required to seek prior approval for a disbursement, they must provide VLA with a copy of the quote for service, the qualifications of the expert providing the service, and the reasons for the request including an explanation of how the service would benefit the assisted person and the detriment to the assisted person if the service is not provided.

Where a disbursement is approved, in order to claim the fee payable, a practitioner must retain on their file evidence of the service and payment for that service.

Read the table of minimum evidence requirements.

Handbook

Updated 23 November 2023