The Accident Compensation Corporation's (ACC) handling of funding of support for survivors of sexual abuse has been disastrous, says Nelson psychotherapist Susan Hawthorne.© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
ACC has backed down on funding cuts and will provide extra support to survivors of sexual abuse. Last October, it cut counselling for victims of rape and other sexual abuse "sensitive claims", and funding was restricted to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault, sparking protests from sexual abuse groups.
However, Ms Hawthorne was unimpressed with the way ACC had failed to communicate with those working in the area of sexual abuse treatment and said today they still did not know the details about who could put in claims.
Yesterday ACC announced that from next week people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a new claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, would be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor.
"ACC has listened to concerns expressed by several groups that more support is needed. Those groups included the public, the sexual abuse treatment sector, and the independent panel appointed by the minister to review the sensitive claims pathway," said ACC's general manager of claims management, Denise Cosgrove.
Ms Hawthorne said the changes had come about because an independent review panel had been appalled at what had happened. "If we had been asked what improvements could be made, we could have helped without causing the terrible harm for clients. The only way some of them have come through is because people involved in treatment have contributed hours of unpaid work."
Ms Cosgrove said the 16 hours counselling should be sufficient to meet the needs of many people, who would not need further ACC cover or ACC-funded treatment. The sessions would be used to gather information on a cover decision for those who did demonstrate signs of a possible mental injury arising from sexual abuse. Details are yet to be finalised, such as what special arrangements might be put in place for children and what support will be available for people who have suffered a relapse, or whose sensitive claims have previously been declined or reactivated.
ACC acknowledged that last year's cuts "exposed gaps in the services available to people who have suffered sexual abuse", Ms Cosgrove said. "We will continue to develop the sensitive claims process, and will take into account the views of the sector, the final report of the independent panel and the cross-government work being carried out after the recent findings of the Taskforce on Sexual Violence."
Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor said more than 16 hours was needed in many cases, but it was an "extremely welcome" move. Last year's cutback had affected survivors of sexual violence. Some would have become suicidal, harmed themselves or closed down and put up with whatever they were dealing with for another 10 years, she said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/4017027/Abuse-funding-angers
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