A WESTERN suburbs counselling service is dealing with a surge in demand from sexual assault victims as government inquiries trigger renewed trauma for survivors.
The Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA), which helps more than 115 Brimbank residents a year, has had a 30 per cent statewide increase in demand since the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child sex abuse began in April and the Royal Commission was announced in November.
WestCASA executive officer Jane Vanderstoel warned that demand was likely to jump further when proceedings begin.
“All our centres have had contact with people who have not talked about this before,” she said.
“The media attention has brought up issues for people — even some of our current clients — because they open a newspaper or turn on the TV and there it is.”
Ms Vanderstoel said counselling support was invaluable to people who had been sexually assaulted by family members or in churches, schools, sport clubs or workplaces.
“Survivors may find themselves experiencing trauma responses such as nightmares, flashbacks, an inability to sleep, intrusive thoughts and issues with trust and intimacy,” she said.
WestCASA offers group work, alternative therapy, yoga and shiatsu alongside counselling.
The service, which is funded by the Department of Human Services, helped 557 residents in Brimbank, Melton, Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong last year.
But Ms Vanderstoel said population growth in the west meant greater government investment was needed. A multi-disciplinary centre, like those announced for Gippsland and Bendigo in last year’s budget, is the long-term goal for the western region.
“The model, where police, child protection and other agencies are co-located, has been shown to increase reporting.”
The service has recently added an extra two days of counselling into the Hoppers Crossing branch in a bid to trim the six-month waiting list. Free counselling is available to people over 12.
Contact with WestCASA can be made through the intake counsellor, available each weekday from 1-4.30pm. Support outside business hours is provided by the Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 9687 5811.
