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Start with Support: Making early help visible and accessible

Proposal Summary

I want to make first line support services more visible and accessible to people seeking help but not knowing where to go.

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Many victim survivors (myself included) don't seek help because they can assume that: 

• Services are tied to police or formal reporting
• Don't know places like Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA) exist that offer up to 12 free counselling sessions 
• Can face long wait times (4-6+ weeks from time of self referal)  

These barriers can lead to delayed support and healing, increased distress, feelings of isolation and helplessness, and disengagement from services creating a gap in early support. 

I'd like to submit this proposal to develop a "Start with Support" initiative that combines clear public messaging with improved early access options. I'd like to see a public awareness campaign highlighting that there is free, and confidential counselling available as a first step (alongside the addition and introduction of some quick response supports being put in place like an initial intake session within days of self-referral, interim group support, or telehealth check ins for those on waitlists for example). 

I believe that earlier access to supports like CASA would reduce barriers to first contact and reporting, would support victim survivors earlier in their recovery, and decrease disengagement during long wait periods. Aiming to leverage existing CASA infrastructure, with additional resourcing directed to short-term early interventions and consistent statewide messaging. This could be seen as a pilot program within the state of Victoria aiming to further support people in need who feel like they have no options to access supports.  Lived experience: I was in this position, it took me roughly a decade to report because I thought my only option to access support was to report to the police when I already had anxiety about not being believed and was not ready to make a statement. I eventually saw a psychologist, who I disclosed my history as a victim survivor to which was incredibly difficult. I'd suffered over the years under the surface by myself, not knowing that I could have access to confidential free counselling supports that aren't linked to having to report my case to Vic Police. 

Once I had dislclosed to my psychologist, she offered some options for me, one of which was CASA House in the CBD. I was able to self refer, and told the wait times were extensive being about 6 weeks from my initial intake call (on the phone the operator told me some days they can have 12 women all self refer). Once I was able to see a counsellor I felt overwhelmed with support, the counsellor assigned to me was one of the best I'd seen. I was treated like I mattered and never once felt that my story was being doubted and if I wanted to report to the police, I could do that at any time or access further financial supports through VOCAT. After my sessions were completed I felt really empowered, to pursue advocacy as a victim survivor and am now driven to help others. I was also able to report to the police during this time which was difficult but I knew I had support from my counsellor and psychologist. Knowing what I know now and having lived it, I wish I knew these supports were available earlier and were an option as opposed to solely thinking I had to report to the police to achieve anything. 

 

• Early access
• support
• counselling
• Effective funding models for supporting recovery after sexual violence