Specialist sexual assault services in Queensland are to share in $2.7 million of Australian Government funding.
Queensland Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Di Farmer said the funding would help services employ additional staff to support abuse survivors.
“October is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, but for the survivors of sexual violence the scars of abuse can last a lifetime,” Ms Farmer said.
“Domestic, family and sexual violence have no place in Queensland; putting an end to the dark cloud of abuse is everybody’s business.”
She said unemployment and the financial uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic had created a perfect storm for abuse, with specialist community-based services reporting a spike in women seeking help as a result of sexual violence.
“I want to thank the Commonwealth for this $2.7 million in COVID-19 funding to be shared among 23 Queensland-based services from the Far North to the Gold Coast with the expertise to support sexual violence survivors,” the Minister said.
“This extra funding enables sexual violence services to employ more specialist staff to reduce pressure on existing workers, deliver counselling and support, and connect survivors of assault with the right legal and health services.”
She said some women presenting to community-based services were reliving past abuse triggered by pandemic-related isolation from the support of family and friends.
“It is crucially important survivors get access to the counselling and support they need to recover and lead productive lives,” Ms Farmer said.
