Though, with the closing of one chapter comes the beginning of another, and a renewed focus has been placed on support for survivors, ensuring greater access to treatment and services. 

Highlands Community Centre community worker Nicole Blaik said many support services were already available in the Southern Highlands for survivors looking to take that first step. 

“We’re often the first port of call for people who are seeking support and we welcome any person struggling to give us a call or walk through our door,” Ms Blaik said. 

“We are an information and referral service so we can help find the right support for the situation,” she said. 

The Southern Highlands Bereavement Care Service is a non-profit organisation that provides bereavement support to the Wingecarribee and Wollondilly shires. 

“Many assume that because it is a bereavement service that they wouldn’t be eligible, but they don’t just deal with grief from the loss of someone, but all sorts of significant loss, which absolutely includes survivors of sexual abuse,” Ms Blaik said.

Other services recommended were Star4Kids – a free counselling service for children, You in Mind – another free service offering sessions with trained mental health professionals and a free adolescent and family counselling service offered through St Vincent de Paul.  

“We also have Odyssey House, which works out of our building, for drug and alcohol counselling. There are survivors who also suffer from drug and alcohol dependency,” Ms Blaik said. 

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“You can always go to your GP to set up a mental health plan which includes 10 sessions with a psychologist covered by medicare,” she said.

The state government recently announced a $127 million package to implement recommendations from the inquiry including $37.7 million for early intervention, child specialist therapeutic services and resources for the community.

Minister for Family and Community Services and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward said the investment will strengthen measures in the community to prevent child sexual abuse through stronger child safe standards within the government and non-government sectors. 

“We are also ensuring that non-government organisations and government organisations are adequately resourced to respond better to complaints of child sexual abuse,” Ms Goward said.

For more information on support services available in the Southern Highlands, visit Highlands Community Centre: 22 Bendooley St, Bowral or phone 4862 1122.

For more information about the response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, visit: https://www.nationalredress.gov.au/ 

If you are struggling and need immediate help, contact: Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 22 4636.

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