ACC sexual abuse counselling cuts could compromise rural – RWNZ

Proposed cuts to ACC sexual abuse counselling will badly impact women living in a rural setting, says Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ).

The ACC changes to sexual abuse counselling are due to be implemented next week.

Under the current system, rural women already face extra hurdles in accessing support and counselling. These include a lack of local services and the greater difficulty ensuring confidentiality in smaller communities.

As stated in the recently released Ministry of Women’s Affairs report, Responding to sexual violence: Environmental scan of New Zealand agencies (September 2009):

“There was a risk of family members finding out when victim/survivors did not want them to know, or service providers being related or known to the victim/survivor or perpetrator. It is also important to recognise that rural areas require additional staff to compensate for the travel time required to cover wide geographical areas in order to see clients.”

Maori and migrant women living in rural areas also experience greater access problems due to the lack of providers who are able to understand different cultural needs.

“We want clarification from ACC on how it will provide an efficient, accessible service to rural women when there is already a lack of available services under the current system,” says RWNZ National President Margaret Chapman.

“We also question the feasibility of the three required ACC therapist checks - an expansion to the checking system - given the current lack of services.”

ENDS

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