Published Monday, 02 April, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Funding for community to help young victims of abuse in Bundaberg
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today announced renewed funding for a Bundaberg service that provides specialised counselling and therapeutic services for children and young people who have been sexually abused.
Ms Boyle said Phoenix House would receive $297,400 each year for three years to provide sexual abuse counselling services in Bundaberg and surrounding areas, extending as far as Agnes Waters, Theodore and Childers.
“Abuse can have wide-ranging impacts on children, including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and a reduced ability to develop trust in adult life,” Ms Boyle said.
“It is so important that children who have been abused get the help they need to heal and the counselling and support this service provides goes a long way towards that.
“It also provides counselling to children who have sexualised behaviour and assesses children who are believed to be at risk of sexual harm,” she said.
In 2006-07, the Department of Child Safety allocated $1.8million to community organisations throughout the state to deliver sexual abuse counselling services to vulnerable children and their families and carers.
Just over half of the department’s $506million budget goes to its community partners, including foster and kinship carers and service providers.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
2 April 2007
Ms Boyle said Phoenix House would receive $297,400 each year for three years to provide sexual abuse counselling services in Bundaberg and surrounding areas, extending as far as Agnes Waters, Theodore and Childers.
“Abuse can have wide-ranging impacts on children, including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and a reduced ability to develop trust in adult life,” Ms Boyle said.
“It is so important that children who have been abused get the help they need to heal and the counselling and support this service provides goes a long way towards that.
“It also provides counselling to children who have sexualised behaviour and assesses children who are believed to be at risk of sexual harm,” she said.
In 2006-07, the Department of Child Safety allocated $1.8million to community organisations throughout the state to deliver sexual abuse counselling services to vulnerable children and their families and carers.
Just over half of the department’s $506million budget goes to its community partners, including foster and kinship carers and service providers.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
2 April 2007