Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Frank McGuire, State MP for Broadmeadows, has reported that the Andrews Labor Government is doing more for victim-survivors of sexual assault in the Broadmeadows electorate with funding to provide more counselling sessions and crisis support.

Mr McGuire announced that 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.

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 2018-2019, an increase of $6.83 million or 32 per cent since 2014.

The distribution of funding for the additional sexual assault support services in the Broadmeadows electorate 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 Broadmeadows electorate adults, young people and children who have experienced sexual assault.

The Broadmeadows electorate will benefit through a funding boost to sexual assault services that provide support to local victim-survivors.  The Royal Women’s Hospital, which services the Broadmeadows electorate, stands to receive $1,129,579.29 over the next four years to enable the valuable services provided to continue.

“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”, Mr McGuire said.

Through the Victorian Budget 2018/2019, 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 victim-survivor in the Broadmeadows electorate who 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.”