Researchers are looking into the services available for child sexual abuse survivors and their supporters across the Bega Valley, including Tathra. Photo: Bega Valley Shire Council Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to child sexual abuse.
A study has begun into the availability and effectiveness of support services for survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) in the Bega Valley, to find ways to improve these services.
Researchers are asking for members of the community whose lives have been affected by such abuse, either survivors themselves or their supporters, to make contact to help them get a better understanding of the current situation.
Led by the University of Canberra, the study’s aim is to identify formal and informal support mechanisms used by survivors throughout their recovery journey.
It will also highlight structural and situational barriers that impact healing processes within the community.
“The study will address critical questions about local service gaps across the life course of survivors and identify types of social action that could improve local responses to CSA,” the study’s organisers said in a statement.
They said the study’s findings would inform future service provision, community education and policy recommendations specific to the challenges faced in the Bega Valley.
The study is being run in partnership between the university and social support organisations Sapphire Neighbourhood Services and the Peregrine Centre.
“Our goal for this project is to explore who people talk to or get support from if they have been impacted by sexual abuse or inappropriate sexual conduct as children,” Sapphire Neighbourhood Services Bega’s service manager James Brown said.
“This includes what factors make it harder or easier to talk to someone, what kinds of support are helpful or unhelpful, and what changes people would like to see happen in the Bega Valley to better support those impacted by child sexual abuse.”
The organisers are inviting members of the Bega Valley community to participate in confidential interviews or a survey as part of the research.
You can join the research project if you have experienced any kind of child sexual abuse in the past, regardless of where it happened, or if you provided support to any child or adult who you know has experienced child sexual abuse.
A $50 voucher is available for those who participate.
For more information about the study or to learn about participating, you can contact Suzanne Milligan on 0493 173 463 or [email protected], as well as Lynne Keevers on 0448 641 162.
Participants can access the online survey by clicking here.
More information on the study can also be found online by clicking here.
The research is funded by the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732 or by visiting www.1800respect.org.au. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Service on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
