ACC: No more funding for sexual abuse counselling

Time 's up for sexual abuse survivors! Shock waves have ripped through New Zealand’s sexual abuse survivors and therapists in the last 6 months since ACC has announced changes to funding sexual abuse counselling. Under the disguise of “following best practice” and the “ interest of clients” changes have been implemented that have been branded as assault on common sense, ethical practice, and psychological understanding of effective treatment for victims of sexual abuse.

A ground swell of protest from counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, and survivors has been ignored, fobbed off, or countered with slippery PR techniques applied by a strong front of government (Ministers and MPs) and ACC management who all sang the same gospel. Many therapists have withdrawn from accepting new ACC clients because under the new rules treatment cannot be provided safely and ethically.

This week, a snap poll held amongst the few therapist who are still accepting new ACC clients has revealed that only 5% of new claims receive approval from ACC. In order to receive funding for counselling you need not only have been sexually abused, you also have to have a mental illness. That basically excludes most survivors (hence the 5% approval rate) who may struggle with post traumatic stress but are not mentally ill.

Great coup ACC and the National Party! You certainly will get the ‘Thumbs up’ from all the rapists, paedophiles, and their supporters. I am sure they’ll going to vote for you at the next election. The board members and the executive leadership team of ACC will be looking forward to a generous bonus at the end of the year!

As a seasoned clinician working in this field I have often thought “… they can’t be that stupid”, but, of course they are. We haven’t seen a clever, original thought coming from ACC in the last 20 years. So-called improvements in their policies or procedures have never aimed at advancing treatment or improving processes. It has always been about saving money, knowing more about what goes on in the counselling room (not that they have the slightest clinical understanding to do something sensible with that knowledge), and putting obstacles in place to limit people’s access to treatment.

I listened the other day to the debate about putting in place national standards for schools to lift the skill level of children and school leavers. There are certainly $$$ galore for this wonderful scheme. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so sad. If every 4^th female and every 6^th male have had unwanted sexual contact by the age of 18, with a high percentage being subjected to repetitive and frequent sexual abuse, you would wonder how much improvement national learning standards would achieve amongst these traumatised kids.

But it obviously doesn’t occur to our government that it might be more useful to poor money into helping parents to be good and well-rounded parents who do not interfere sexually with their children. It doesn’t seem to occur to them that helping survivors to deal with their abuse history so that they don’t end up passing on to their children the legacies of abuse.

 

Comments

[Jacquie burns]

If the College of GPs and the Massey University have all said they DO NOT SUPPORT these changes, and masses of counsellors have stopped referring client, then please tell me this: WHO THE HELL DID SUPPORT THIS CHANGE?

[Gudrun Frerichs, PhD]

Hi David, one wonders what's so difficult to understand about this. Unfortunately, third party funding agencies all over the world have taken it upon themselves to play gate keeper to services. Usually under the disguise of 'providing best treatment for the client', but I don't think anybody has any illusions about the fact that it is a money saving exercise (except ACC and whoever is the ACC minister of the time).

[David Wadsworth]

I could not agree more with Dr Frerichs.

In my opinion, ACC's "Clinical Pathway to Hell" or CPTH, or at least the implementation of it, is at odds with the legislation. Firstly, it betrays the very essence of the purpose of the scheme, as set out in Section 3 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001, because it is shifting the cost onto the community by failing to fund the treatment that is necessary and appropriate. ACC has also slashed its budget for injury prevention in relation to sexual abuse - a paltry $27500 for the current year (obtained under the OIA).

I also consider that the way the implementation of the CPTH breaches claimants right under "the Code" because ACC are not making decisions in a timely manner, discussing time frames,taking into account the claimant is under emotional stress nor respecting the claimants wishes (by not providing a choice of assessor).

Also, since when was it ACC job to decide what treatment is appropriate? That is the role of the patient's treatment providers.

I am not even convince ACC introduced the CPTH with the best of intentions. It seems nothing more than a way to reduce ACC's liability without any benefit to the claimant or the community.

[Gerry Neale]

Love the site and the comprehensive nature of it. Have just started to apply some of my life's experience to help people. I have been appalled and upset by the recent revelation that 130,000 children were compulsorily expatriated from UK between 1930s and 1960s and as children a great number of them suffered physical and sexual abuse. I wish you well in your excellent work.

[Yviesback]

Yes 's' exactly!!! We can support each other. We don't have to give up fighting either but if we all band together we can make a difference. On our own we can't do much but as one huge community so much can be done. We can be our own hero and stand together in Unity. (There is no unity without 'U') Lets do it. I am forming a group called Army of Angels and its about being committed to healing. You can read about them on www.armyofangels.net/about they originated in the states but are spreading all over the world. So I am aiming on starting one in NZ. The government is letting us down but we can join together and make a lot of noise about it. Those that can act can do for all that can't and the ones that can't go on marches etc can do other things. Anyway I hope thats ok to share on here Gudrun.

[s]

what can you expect from a National government? Social policy nill!! Hang in there everyone, we will find a way, even if we all have to support each other.

[K]

That is awful!
K

[jnj]

This absolutely sickens me to the stomach,I ca'nt explain how I feel.Sometimes I think revenge is the only way, which is sick in its self