Funding to combat sexual violence

THE State Government has announced more than $1.2 million in funding over three years for youth sexual violence services in Toowoomba as part of Sexual Violence Awareness Month this October.

Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women Di Farmer said young people needed wellfunded services to provide intensive support and help survivors overcome trauma.

“Sexual violence is pervasive and occurs everywhere, in regional and rural communities as well as in metropolitan areas,” she said.

“That’s why we’re investing $7.7 million across five Queensland locations, to make sure every community has the services they need.

“In Toowoomba, funding has been awarded to Mercy Community Services SEQ and the Domestic Violence Action Centre Inc to help young people overcome the trauma they have experienced.”

“The Palaszczuk Government has shown incredible commitment on this issue, and this funding continues our ongoing support for vital services for survivors.”

Ms Farmer said the theme of this year’s Sexual Violence Awareness Month was “Start by Believing”.

“Sexual violence is underreported, and too many victims think they can’t come forward,” she said.

“Start by Believing is about ending the cycle of silence and overcoming the barriers that prevent survivors from reporting sexual violence.”

Mercy Community’s CEO Fritha Radyk said the organisation would use the funding to continue to support vulnerable young people who have been affected by sexual abuse or sexual violence in Toowoomba.

“Our Sexual Abuse Counselling Programs create a safe space for children to process the impact of sexual abuse and develop healthy and safe relationship and emotion coping skills that reduce the potential for ongoing disadvantage,” she said.

Ms Farmer said these types of services are one of the priority areas highlighted in the Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse Final Report, released in March 2017.

“The report found that youth sexual violence and abuse is a state-wide issue, affecting people in urban, regional and remote communities in Queensland,” she said.

“The report found that communities most affected by youth sexual violence and abuse also experienced a higher rate of social, economic and intergenerational disadvantage - and we need to break this cycle.”