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Accident Compensation
Corporation
March 13, 2001
ACC - Helping Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
ACC is today releasing therapy guidelines for
counsellors dealing with adult survivors of child sexual abuse at a launch in
Auckland.
Written by Auckland Psychologist Kim McGregor, “Therapy Guidelines: Adult
Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse” give New Zealand counsellors the
latest and leading information on abuse and trauma therapy from around the
world.
Therapists involved in the guidelines are welcoming the publication as
thorough and valuable and of great help.
“Sexual abuse is a hidden injury that affects thousands of New Zealanders.
ACC has an obligation to not only help survivors of sexual abuse, but to
provide them with the best care possible”, Dr David Rankin of ACC Healthwise
said.
ACC has accepted sexual abuse claims since the scheme’s inception in 1974. In
1992 ACC developed a special unit to deal specifically with sexual abuse claims.
Data from 1 July 1992 up until the end of January this year shows ACC has
accepted 47,000 claims for sexual abuse. Around 80% are adult’s now
registering claims with ACC for sexual abuse during their childhood.
Currently over 8,000 claimants are receiving treatment for the effects of
sexual abuse.
ACC is able to accept claims for mental injury arising from sexual abuse,
which occurred at any time in a person’s life.
The specialist type of help ACC offers is counselling, along with the regular
entitlements that may be applicable.
“Last year ACC spent over $1.5 million on counselling and we want that
counselling to be as effective as possible”, Dr Rankin said.
“Therapy has often been fragmented and incomplete due to the complexities of
the personal injury. These guidelines will help therapists provide quality
care for their patients”.
ACC will be providing free copies of the guidelines to all ACC contracted
mental health providers; other providers will be able to buy the guidelines
for $25.
For more information contact:
Kathryn Griffiths
ACC Media Communications Advisor
Phone: (04) 918 4291 or 025 281 6982
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