NCWNZ welcomes ACC announcement, but remains cautious

The announcement by ACC, that it will provide immediate relief to new and yet unapproved sexual abuse survivors, has come as a relief to the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ).

“We cannot state enough just how critical it is that new policy approaches are tested before being rolled out,” says Elizabeth Bang, NCWNZ National President. “A pilot for the ACC clinical pathway should have been undertaken, and the opportunity for culturally appropriate consultation promoted and supported by ACC.”

NCWNZ is aware that ACC is actively taking steps to begin addressing the other issues associated with the clinical pathway and some providers have been contacted regarding their participation.

“In the long-run, the savings that have been made during this nine-month experiment, will undoubtedly be expended as ACC injects funding through to assist, what we envisage will be an influx in claimants,” says Elizabeth Bang. “Again, ACC will need to ensure they have sufficient staff on deck to manage the opening of the flood-gates.”

The most important test of how effective consumers and providers were in their consultations with the ACC Independent Review Panel will be determined by what has been captured in the final report to the Minister of ACC.

“Once the report is made public and the Minister of ACC, and ACC itself, have responded to the report’s recommendations, then we will know what work is left to do to ensure the current discrimination has been dealt with,” concludes Elizabeth Bang.

ENDS

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