Southern Arch Centre hailed a success two months after opening doors to victim-survivors of sexual violence

A new “wrap-around, trauma-informed” support centre for victim-survivors of sexual violence has counsellors and police in plain clothes on-hand to assist people who walk in off the street seeking assistance.

Minister Felix Ellis. Question time in the Tasmanian parliament. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

An innovative new support centre for victim-survivors of sexual violence has been hailed as a success two months after opening its doors, with Tasmania Police assistant commissioner Robert Blackwood saying it is “empowering” traumatised people to “decide what’s best for them”.

The Southern Arch Centre, located on Victoria St, opened in July. It’s been designed to provide a “wraparound, trauma-informed” system of care for victim-survivors, according to the state government.

The centre allows people to walk in off the street and receive counselling or speak with police, who are wearing plain clothes. There are private interview rooms and areas designed with children in mind.

Assistant Commissioner Robert Blackwood with Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Felix Ellis and Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Madeleine Ogilvie at the new Northern Arch Centre. Picture: Supplied

Assistant Commissioner Blackwood joined Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Felix Ellis and Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Madeleine Ogilvie at the opening of the Northern Arch Centre on Cameron St in Launceston on Saturday, which will complement the Southern service.

“We’ve been open in the South of the state for a couple of months now and what we’re seeing is that joined-up response and a counsellor sitting in a room with a detective talking about what are these victim’s needs, what do they want, do they want to go down a criminal pathway or, at the moment, do they want to preserve that evidence while they continue the support?” he said.

“It’s empowering victims to decide what’s best for them at that time.”

Mr Ellis said the Arch centres gave victim-survivors “more agency”.

“We [as a state] have failed victim-survivors in the past and this centre is, in some small way, an acknowledgment that we’re committed to doing things better in the future,” he said.

Originally published as Southern Arch Centre hailed a success two months after opening doors to victim-survivors of sexual violence