Monday, 2 July 2018

The Andrews Labor Government is doing more for victim-survivors of sexual assault in Gippsland with funding to provide more counselling sessions and crisis support.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing today announced the Victorian Government is investing $8.51 million over four years for additional sexual assault support services, which covers short, medium and long term crisis care, counselling, casework, advocacy and group work.

This funding boost will provide:

• $3.96 million for additional sexual assault support services, which covers short, medium and long term crisis care, counselling, casework, advocacy and group work
• $1.32 million for the Sexual Assault Crisis Line Victoria, a state-wide, after-hours, confidential telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault
• $3.23 million for the Wyndham Multi-Disciplinary Centre, a wraparound support hub providing a range of critical services to vulnerable adults and children who have experienced sexual assault

Investing in these services is expected to help almost 4,000 victim-survivors of sexual assault in Victoria over the next four years, as well as significantly improving the response time for those who require after hours support.

This brings the Labor Government’s support for Victorian sexual assault services to more than $28 million in 2018-19, an increase of $6.83 million or 32 per cent since 2014.

The distribution of funding for the additional sexual assault support services in Gippsland will be based on the existing allocation, with increased funding allocated to those with significant wait lists.

Sexual Assault Support Services provide direct services to Gippsland adults, young people and children who have experienced sexual assault.

Gippsland will benefit through a funding boost of $ 476,695.37, over four years, to sexual assault services that provide support to local victim-survivors through Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault Inc.

Through the Victorian Budget 2018/19, the Labor Government has committed $49.86 million over four years and $2.3 million ongoing for family violence therapeutic and flexible support across Victoria.

Anyone impacted by sexual assault can access information on specialist support services at services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sexual-assault-support-services.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“Demand for sexual assault support services is increasing, so we’re making sure we can respond to every Gippsland victim-survivor that needs it – we don’t want them braving it alone.”

“We want services that are well resourced to provide assistance, wherever and whenever it’s needed.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing

“Our local sexual assault services provide a vital service to enable victim-survivors to recover and reclaim their lives – that’s why we’re increasing their funding.”