SEXUAL assault victims from Wyndham account for the highest number of clients at a western suburbs counselling service, as government inquiries trigger renewed trauma for survivors.
More than 185 Wyndham residents seek help each year at the Footscray-based Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault, which has outreach offices in Hoppers Crossing and Melton.
WestCASA executive officer Jane Vanderstoel said the service was dealing with a 30 per cent surge in demand since the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child sexual abuse began in April and a royal commission was announced in November.
“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.”
She said counselling was invaluable to people who had been sexually abused.
“Survivors may be experiencing trauma responses such as nightmares, flashbacks, an inability to sleep, intrusive thoughts, and issues with trust and intimacy,” Ms Vanderstoel said.
In 2012, WestCASA, funded by the Department of Human Services, helped 557 residents in Wyndham, Melton, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong.
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 state budget, is a long-term goal for the western region.
“The model where police, child protection and other agencies are co-located has shown to increase reporting,” Ms Vanderstoel said.
WestCASA recently added two extra days of counselling at the Hoppers Crossing branch in a bid to trim a six-month wait list.
“While we have 186 people who live in Wyndham, we can’t send them all to Hoppers Crossing, so we see about half in Footscray and people have to travel from Wyndham to Footscray to get a service.”
Free counselling is available to men and women and contact with the WestCASA intake counsellor is available weekdays from 1-4.30pm.
Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 9687 5811.
