ACC Changes to Sexual Abuse Counselling

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1. Add yourself or your organisation as a supporter of this cause in the form at the bottom of this page.

2. Write to your local and other MPs and let them know your concerns about the new "clinical pathway". Download a letter written by the Roundtable on Violence Against Women to use as a template.

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The National Council of Women of New Zealand is opposed to the changes made to the ACC sensitive claims 'clinical pathway'.

We are concerned for the following reasons:
  • Counsellors, Therapists, Social Workers, and currently, Psychotherapists are no longer qualified to provide ACC assessments for subsidised treatment for victims of sexual abuse and/or sex crimes.
  • There are insufficient Psychologists and Psychiatrists in New Zealand to provide the necessary assessments, so the period of waiting before ACC subsidised treatment can be approved could be as long as nine months.
  • The Psychologists and Psychiatrists who are qualified to undertake assessments do not necessarily have a history or relevant work experience in the field of sexual abuse.
  • If you undergo a DSM IV assessment by a Psychologist or Psychiatrist, it will be determined that you have experienced mental illness as a result of trauma. This will have implications in the future when seeking assistance in terms of his/her mortgage, access to insurances, and opportunities for employment.
  • There are no regulations within the law that require those seeking subsidised counselling to be classified as having an illness.
  • Those working in the sexual violence field are deeply concerned that ACC is encouraging professionals to breach the Code of Ethics.
  • The clinical pathway is discouraging women from seeking recovery via the ACC subsidised counselling system.
  • The maximum number of sessions that ACC will approve at any one time is 16; this replaces the previously set figure of 30 sessions.
  • The ACC sensitive claims clinical pathway discriminates against women directly and indirectly.
Those in support of the ACC sensitive claims clinical pathway are:
  • Hon Nick Smith 
  • Some ACC staff
Those opposed to the ACC sensitive claims clinical pathway are:
  • The Massey Research Team who prepared the Technical Reports on which the Massey Guidelines are based
  • New Zealand Psychological Society
  • NZ College of Clinical Psychologists
  • NZ Association of Psychotherapists
  • Mental Health Foundation
  • NZ Association of Counsellors
  • National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges
  • Specialist Sexual Violence Agencies
  • National Council of Women of New Zealand
  • Doctors for sexual abuse Care
  • Aoteoroa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW)

Resources

Latest Update

Correspondence Update - December 2009

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) has received a response to the letter sent to Hon Nick Smith, ACC Minister. Read the response.

Read more...

Previous Updates

ACC: Discrimination against Maori women - December 2009

The changes to ACC counselling for survivors of sexual abuse are discriminatory on the basis of gender, as well as race.

Read more...

Reclaim the Night - December 2009

On the 27th of November, the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) joined many others in Wellington to reclaim the night and march against violence towards women.

Read more...

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Comments

  • Yesterday it was announced that ACC will no longer meet the cost of any counselling for those who were sexually abused before 1974. So how do we feel about "them apples"? Absolutely disgusted!!

    Posted by Lynda Sutherland, 26/01/2010 12:31pm (1 month ago)

  • I support your actions. Women must stand up against reduction of sexual abuse counselling cuts.

    Posted by Rosemary Simpson, 11/01/2010 9:55am (2 months ago)

  • I am opposed to the new changes, trying to understand how anyone could make a victim of rape and violence go through an assessment to see if they have suffered mental illness due to their trauma. From what I can see its all to cut costs. How utterly selfish of ACC. But as noted earlier will follow this person for the rest of their working life, hindering then in their job prospects. I think ACC needs to go back to the drawing board and have a serious think of these new implications, either change it back to what it was, or revise it

    Posted by Angela Brunton, 30/12/2009 12:02pm (2 months ago)

  • Don't forget to spread the word about what has happened with ACC and access to sexual abuse counselling!!

    Posted by Lynda, 27/12/2009 10:15am (2 months ago)

  • Posted by , 27/12/2009 10:13am (2 months ago)

  • The New SCCP introduced in July 2009 and implemented in October 2009 following minimal consultation with provider groups, and minimal change differs significantly from the evidence based "Massey guidelines" that were released in June 2008.
    The New SCCP reduces access to ACC funding for counselling for recovery from the mental injury of sexual assault.
    The procedures of the SCCP raise privacy and informed consent issues for providers and claimants.
    None of the above "improve the standard of care for people who have been sexually abused".

    Posted by Juliet Broadmore, 18/12/2009 5:53pm (3 months ago)

  • I fully support this.

    Posted by Jennifer Deane, 18/12/2009 4:52pm (3 months ago)

  • I am one of the abused persons and without the help os counselling I am sure I would not have been able to cope with bringinmg up my 5 Grandchildren. I am sorry but we really needs these people otherwise I am sure mental health would have more patients.

    Posted by Pamela Pompey, 17/12/2009 5:06pm (3 months ago)

  • The unintended side-effect of these changes is re-victimiisation - the demand that survivors prove that they have been harmed will never help them recover.

    Posted by Angie Stoddart, 16/12/2009 7:50pm (3 months ago)

  • I saw a documentary on Sky - Crime channel - Psychopaths and sociopaths have the ability to "dissociate". Other than killers, professions which have the same personality trait - CEO's, game-show hosts, and Politicians. I kid you not, google it!

    Posted by Anon, 16/12/2009 12:35pm (3 months ago)

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