A massive public backlash from survivors of sexual abuse, and health professionals, has forced an about-turn on ACC cuts brought in last year.Copyright 2010 Television New Zealand
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has backed down on its changes and will now provide abuse victims with extra support.
Last October, ACC slashed counselling for people with "sensitive claims" - victims of rape and other sexual abuse. Funding was restricted to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault, sparking outrage and protests from sexual abuse groups. To get support, victims of sexual abuse had to undergo an extra psychiatric assessment to prove they had a mental injury.
ONE News spoke to one abuse victim who failed the psychiatric assessment and says it brought back all the bad memories. "I have not had a chance to move forward because I have been so re-traumatised with having to deal with the system that I haven't been dealing with my abusive past," he said.
ACC's general manager of claims, Denise Cosgrove, said the organisation had listened to the people affected. "Those groups included the public, the sexual abuse treatment sector, and the independent panel appointed by the minister to review the sensitive claims pathway," she said.
From next week people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, will be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor, without having to prove mental injury.
Cosgrove said those hours should be sufficient to meet the needs of many people, who would not need further ACC cover or ACC-funded treatment. She acknowledged last year's cuts "exposed gaps in the services available to people who have suffered sexual abuse".
But our victim, who didn't want to be identified, said 16 hours of counselling is still inadequate. "Sixteen hours will never be enough, it's not time enough for people to feel comfortable with disclosing their sexual abuse past," he said.
A number of details to the ACC changes are yet to be finalised, such as special arrangements for children, and what support will be available for people who have suffered a relapse, or whose sensitive claims have previously been declined.
Since the introduction of psychiatric assessments in November, ACC says 2503 applications for counselling have been lodged. Only 304 have been approved and 1188 declined, and the rest are being assessed.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/acc-funding-cuts-sex-victims-reversed-3695439
I really hate the way Denise Cosgrove makes it seem like they are listening to us and doing us a favour now. What a joke! They have taken it ALL away and are how giving us a bone to chew on and we should be greatful for that act of charity.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is they are scared none of them will have a job a the end of this if they don't do something before the Review Panel come back with the report. As people have been telling ACC since last year (before the pathway was introduced) at how damaging this was going to be. Makes me SICK really this pathetic statement from them.
I think it's time for them all to take for cover. It is seemingly a big 'ball of blame' - like pass the parcel but hoping like hell it won't end up in this instance, in your own lap. Shame on all who could not see their way clear as to how it would affect so many in such a bad way. Shame also that Nick Smith now has to face up to what a sham it really was in the first place. How come he could not see his way clear.I am helping to pay the man, for God's sake. Asking for anything from ACC is like asking for something that was never to be mine in the beginning. Who were they set up for then?
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