The Swamp Report

12 August 2010

National still failing to take responsibility

A press release from the Labour Party

The Minister of ACC Nick Smith is trying to avoid taking proper responsibility for the plainly unjust cuts in ACC funded counselling for victims of sexual crimes, Labour’s ACC spokesman David Parker and Victims Rights spokesperson Lynne Pillay say.
“The Minister was repeatedly and clearly warned, by clinicians and the Labour Party that his changes were so obviously wrong,” David Parker said. “The Minister’s attempt to blame this all on the ACC Board should not be accepted. Why have a Minister if he will not take responsibility in the face of prior warnings?
“In some months the number of people being approved for counselling following sexual crimes has been 90 percent lower than previously. The Minister tried to defend this.
“The latest justification asserts that a change to the law is needed, this excuse is another example of slippery behaviour. No one has shown that providing counselling to victims of sexual crimes is illegal. If it was, then ACC had been acting illegally for years, and the latest reinstatement of counselling would itself be illegal if that argument were accurate.
“Similarly, the Minister’s attempt to blame the prior government doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. It was the current government that introduced the requirement to prove mental illness rather than mental injury.
“This cannot be blamed on either the prior government or the Massey University guidelines. In fact the current government’s misuse of those guidelines lead to Massey publicly disassociating from ACC’s changes to their guidelines.
“The public record on this is clear for all to see the Minister and his hand picked Board are responsible, and should accept accountability.
Victims Rights spokesperson Lynne Pillay said the changes that had been introduced by National had been a disaster.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1008/S00195/national-still-failing-to-take-responsibility.htm

ACC policy change for sexual abuse victims

The Accident Compensation Corporation has announced sexual abuse victims will once again be eligible for up to 16 hours of counselling. Felicity Perry speaks to reporter Danya Levy on National Radio's Morning Report. Click here to listen.

Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand

ACC reverses funding cuts for sex victims

An article from the Otago Daily Times

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has backed down on funding cuts and will provide extra support to survivors of sexual abuse.
Last October ACC 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 outrage and protests from sexual abuse groups.
But yesterday it 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.
The 16 hours should be sufficient to meet the needs of many people, who would not need further ACC cover or ACC-funded treatment, she said.
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.
A number of 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 last year's cuts "exposed gaps in the services available to people who have suffered sexual abuse," Ms Cosgrove said.
"We will be continuing 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 following the recent findings of the Taskforce on Sexual Violence."
Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor told the New Zealand Herald more than 16 hours was needed in many cases, but it was an "extremely welcome" move.
The 16 hour figure pertained to adults who had experienced one sexual assault but would be inappropriate for child sexual abuse and for most survivors of more than one sexual assault, she said.
Dr McGregor said last year's cutback had affected survivors of sexual violence, and counsellors.
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.

Rape prevention group welcomes ACC u-turn

A news report from 3 News

The Government's decision to provide counselling for the survivors of sexual abuse has ended what support groups are calling a "terrible year".
ACC has done a u-turn on providing sexual abuse victims with up to 16 hours of counselling.
Last year it introduced tougher guidelines that meant only those diagnosed with mental injury were eligible - sparking protest marches across the country.
Kim McGregor, of Rape Prevention, says the Government's shift means victims can get the support they need.
“It’s been a terrible year for survivors of sexual violence, it’s been a whole year where basically they haven’t been able to access any counselling and some survivors have been actively self harming or suicidal,” she says.
Ms McGregor says there is now concern there could be a shortage of sexual abuse counsellors, who may have moved onto other areas in the past year.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Rape-Prevention-group-welcome-ACC-u-turn/tabid/419/articleID/170233/Default.aspx

ACC concedes sexual abuse victims fallen through gaps

A news report from Radio New Zealand

The Accident Compensation Corporation acknowledges victims of sexual abuse have fallen through the system under its new approach to treatment.
ACC on Wednesday announced sexual abuse victims will be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor.
Last year the corporation introduced tougher guidelines that required it to focus treatment only on sexual abuse victims who have a diagnosed mental injury.
In June, it acknowledged it had moved too quickly to implement its new approach.
From Monday, 700 people awaiting a decision and anyone with a new claim will be eligible for the counselling.
The corporation says it is still working through what the latest changes will mean for those who were declined cover.
Labour MP Lynne Pillay says only 180 people had their applications for counselling approved in the past year, while 1500 were declined or put on hold. She says ACC's backdown is too little, too late.