A centre offering services and counselling for survivors of sexual assault is being built in Werribee.
The Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos last week visited the site of the Wyndham Multi-Disciplinary Centre (WMDC), which is set to open next year.
Ms Mikakos said the centre would be a base for community nurses, forensic medical officers, child protection staff and counsellors from the Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA) and Gatehouse, which helps child victims of sexual abuse.
The centre will also be home to a Victoria Police sexual offences and child abuse investigation team and officers who investigate family violence.
Ms Mikakos said the centre would serve Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Wyndham, and Brimbank.
She said having several services located in the same building meant sexual assault survivors would be able to receive help in a more timely manner.
“It means survivors won’t have to keep moving from service to service, or building to building, or keep repeating their stories to different professionals,” she said.
The chief executive of Women’s Health West, Dr Robyn Gregory, said the organisation was “very pleased to support the forthcoming completion and opening of the new multidisciplinary centre in Wyndham.”
“It will enable a range of services to work together to better meet the needs of vulnerable adults and children who have experienced sexual assault or sexually abusive behaviours,” she said.
“Coordinated, joined up services for survivors will help to make sure they are safe and able to recover from their experience.
“We look forward to working in partnership with organisations such as WestCASA, Victoria Police and Child Protection in order to provide the best possible response for survivors of sexual assault in a safe and accessible location.”
Contact WestCASA on 9687 5811 or info@westcasa.org.au for help, or the Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292.
