Funding boost for Gold Coast sexual violence victim support

Published Thursday, 09 July, 2015 at 02:20 PM

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Training and Skills
The Honourable Yvette D'Ath

Sexual violence victims will have better support services after a State Government funding boost gave the green light to a Gold Coast training and education initiative.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence Inc was awarded $46,620 to train up to 50 community workers in south-east and north Queensland to recognise and respond to sexual violence involving a victim’s intimate partner.

The centre will also develop an online network for support workers to share knowledge and resources as part of a digital education program, with the network becoming available to the Queensland service sector in the future.

“A resource package including information for victims, their supporters and the general community will be developed and available for download,” Mrs D’Ath said.

Mrs D’Ath said other successful recipients of the latest funding round through the Victims Services Building Capacity Funding Program included three other projects across the state, aimed at helping address the impact of violent crime, such as sexual assault, on victims.

“Being a victim of sexual violence or abuse is a traumatic experience, particularly where the crime may involve a partner or family member,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“While any physical injuries may heal, victims may feel fear, shame, anxious, isolated or even blame themselves and it may affect their relationships with others for the rest of their lives. 

“We are committed to providing better support for victims of crime and this funding program facilitates services that can help victims, and their families, recover from these criminal acts and get their lives back on track.”

Tablelands Rape and Incest Crisis Centre Inc will receive $35,100 to train up to 25 community workers from the Atherton Tablelands area who support Indigenous victims of sexual assault.

“It will provide skills and a framework for practitioners to provide timely and culturally sensitive responses to women and children who have experienced sexual violence,” she said.

Support workers in rural and remote areas of Queensland would also benefit from funding of $60,120 awarded to WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association Inc, an organisation supporting people with intellectual disabilities who are victims of violent crime, while Brisbane-based Nundah Community Support Group Inc received $50,000.

Victim Assist Queensland will call for submissions early next year for the 2016-17 Building Capacity Funding Program round.

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