Claims crisis service ‘retraumatised’ sexual assault survivors

One of Victoria’s largest sexual assault counselling services is being reviewed amid claims it retraumatised highly vulnernable clients.

Survivors of sexual assault and family violence claims they have been retraumatised by one of the state’s biggest support services.

One of the state’s largest sexual assault counselling services is being reviewed amid claims it has retraumatised and harmed highly vulnerable clients.

It is understood the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault withdrew services to long-term clients in recent weeks, prompting a flood of claims from former staff and victims of violence.

Monash Health has appointed Dr Alex Cockram – who oversaw the recent Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system – to investigate SECASA’s decision to cancel a counselling program for victims of family and other violence.

At least eight clients were denied their counselling after the Heart Strong Group was suddenly cancelled after operating for the past eight years, with some distressed members telling the Saturday Herald Sun they have been left with no support for the past six weeks.

Former members are also demanding Monash Health expand its investigation into all aspects of SECASA’s services, claiming clients are at risk of self harm and suicide after being retraumatised by aspects of their counselling.

A Monash Health spokeswoman confirmed independent experts Dr Alex Cockram and Christine Kotur had been appointed to investigate cessation of a SECASA program.

“The review team will speak with the clients of the program and employees and all those involved will be provided support throughout the process,” the spokeswoman said.

“In addition, SECASA is providing individual support and counselling to those clients of the former program.

“Given the review process remains ongoing and the sensitive and confidential issues involved, no further comment will be offered.”

But one SECASA client told the Saturday Herald Sun she had been retraumatised by the way SECASA had treated her, demanding the review also examine claims of inappropriate counselling arrangements, including the way perpetrators and their families were catered for.

“Some people have been damaged and will not recover from this,” she said.

“They had trust in these counsellors and you cannot just rebuild that overnight because these people have actually been broken.

“They basically just ... said that we need to leave the service, and it was just done wrong.

“I think everybody has been retraumatised by a service that is a trauma-informed service.”