A highly-anticipated facility which would give sexual assault victims access to police and counselling services under one roof is set to open its doors by the middle of next year.
The multi-disciplinary centre will co-locate the Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault, child protection practitioners, a health nurse and the local police sexual offences and child abuse investigation team in the same building.
Initially funded in the 2013/14 state budget, the project stalled when a suitable location could not be found.
Member for Morwell Russell Northe has revealed a Morwell site has been settled upon, however the exact location is yet to be announced.
Plans are now underway for the purpose-built facility.
“Unfortunately the project hasn’t been instigated as quickly as we would all like,” Mr Northe said.
“We had difficulty trying to ascertain a location, but that has been resolved, so it’s full steam ahead.
“History tells us that similar models in place in Victoria have worked extremely well and make a significant difference.”
The facility will be built and operated with $4.8 million in State Government funding.
It has also provided $61,000 for a project officer to help bring the partner organisations together during the transitional period and enhance the community’s connection to the centre.
Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault chief executive Fiona Boyle said under the current system, victims were susceptible to falling through the cracks, but the new arrangement would give clients immediate access to a range of information.
“With sexual assault, timing is so critical if people want to make a report,” Ms Boyle said.
“Under the multi-disciplinary centre, if we have someone in a counselling session who wants to know about reporting, we can get police in. Equally, if someone wants to present to police and gets distressed, we can represent them.”
Ms Boyle said while the centre would allow for a collaborative approach between services, they were still separate organisations.
“I don’t want people to think coming to GCASA means they have to report to police, or going to police, they have to have a counselling session with GCASA,” she said.
“Services will be available if they want to take them up.”
The counsellors, psychologists and social workers at GCASA see up to 700 clients from across Gippsland each year. Ms Boyle said demand for services was “consistent and growing”.
“Over the last few years funding has been topped up and wait lists have dropped considerably,” she said.
“The multi-disciplinary centre is about trying to make that experience much easier, so offenders are accountable and victims are supported.
“I am confident it will be a big improvement on the way we provide services.”
Ms Boyle said GCASA was seeking feedback from the community about the multi-disciplinary centre and concept plans would be put up in its waiting room.
From tomorrow until the new facility is built, GCASA will move from its current Victor Street premises, to 126 George Street, Morwell.
It can still be phoned on 5134 3922.
Multi-disciplinary centres are already established in Seaford, Mildura and Geelong and the Morwell facility is among three more across Victoria to be funded as part of the State Government’s Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children.
“Over the last few years funding has been topped up and wait lists have dropped considerably,” she said.
“The multi-disciplinary centre is about trying to make that experience much easier, so offenders are accountable and victims are supported.
“I am confident it will be a big improvement on the way we provide services.”
Ms Boyle said GCASA was seeking feedback from the community about the multi-disciplinary centre and concept plans would be put up in its waiting room.
From tomorrow until the new facility is built, GCASA will move from its current Victor Street premises, to 126 George Street, Morwell.
It can still be phoned on 5134 3922.
Multi-disciplinary centres are already established in Seaford, Mildura and Geelong and the Morwell facility is among three more across Victoria to be funded as part of the State Government’s Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children.
