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Anger at the impact proposed ACC changes could have on sex abuse victims has spilled out on to New Zealand streets.
Hundreds of people protested on Monday, saying cuts to funding for therapy will cause victims even more trauma.
Monday was dedicated "national day of action" by organisers, with marches planned for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
In Wellington, protesters took advantage of the good weather and met at the Cenotaph before marching past parliament and ACC's head office.
Almost 200 people held signs, chanted and left a rainbow of messages in coloured chalk on the pavement demanding "no cuts", "support survivors" and "I'm not crazy".
In Auckland, protesters managed to get inside ACC doors and refused to leave.
Confrontation erupted when a security guard tried to retain a protester.
"Removing the voice of survivors"
The changes would make it harder for sexual abuse victims to come forward, campaign spokeswoman Miriam Sessa says.
"We want to build communities that oppose the culture of silence around sexual abuse, rather than implementing reforms that effectively remove the voice of survivors."
The changes mean victims would have to "jump through bureaucratic hoops" which would further disempower them, she says.
"This change is clearly a cost-cutting measure."
ACC general manager Denise Cosgrove says the changes are around internal management and having a stronger early clinical process.
People always had to be clinically assessed as having mental injury arising from the abuse to get counselling, she told NZPA.
The changes will mean the "right people" make the diagnosis and there will be "certainty up front".
Previously, a "mix" of people could diagnose mental injury, that is now likely to be limited to psychiatrists and psychotherapists, Cosgrove says.
There will be no limit made on counselling but everyone will be assessed after 16 weeks of counselling to check progress.
If they needed more they would get it, Cosgrove says.
ACC is turning the Massey guidelines into protocol and creating a "higher level of rigor", she says.
Researchers unhappy
Counsellor Cathy McPherson says researchers behind the Massey guidelines are "unhappy at the way their research had been used".
"There is a big difference in counselling requirements of a client who may have had a single incident of abuse with a good support system, as opposed to a client who has been subjected to years of sexual abuse by multiple perpetrators, both in childhood and adulthood."
ACC has overlooked that they are dealing with "the most vulnerable, damaged and marginalised members of out society".
Respectful, appropriate, ethical and culturally sensitive counselling will not be possible under the changes, McPherson says.
Last week Labour MP Lynne Pillay said counsellors had warned the changes at ACC would limit or prevent sexual abuse victims from getting counselling.
Clinicians in Wellington were making decisions about who would receive counselling, sometimes without meeting the victim, she said.
"Withholding much needed and deserved support from those who have suffered horrendously at the hands of a criminal is a disgrace."
However, ACC Minister Nick Smith says there has been no change to those eligible for ACC counselling for sensitive claims relating to crime.
The industry has been consulted on the changes for years, including under the Labour government, Smith says.
"I have not asked ACC to make savings in counselling," he says.
How do you feel about ACC's criteria changes for
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Post new commentNoddy samurai said on 2009-10-27 @ 18:51 NZDT: Report abusive post
What ever!! .. A.C.C needs to know they're been taken for a ride what else can they do and HEY !! I'm on A.C.C. National is trying to make things work for the whole country by making cuts every where, Labour got us here in the first place
kaz196884 said on 2009-10-19 @ 23:04 NZDT: Report abusive post
As a sexual abuse survivor I still need counselling as I'm sure alot of other victims of sexual abuse need their counelling. to me it seems that ACC is just worring about saving money and not caring about the vicims. They are making it so hard for these delicate souls to get help so that they can somehow get through life. Come on ACC look somewhere else for the money saving and leave our sexual abuse survivor's and counselling alone.
babbles said on 2009-10-19 @ 21:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
I am absolutely appalled to think that these victims, are yet again going to be victims. Remember - they had NO choice, and after all, ACC is SUPPOSED to be the insurance for New Zealanders. Stop paying money to the criminals, stop paying ACC to the drunken drivers who have accidents and get the upper management to take pay decreases, which is just what is being suggested for the poor VICTIMS yet again who are on ACC and being threatened to cut it back to 60%. Remember the VICTIMS !!!!!
anonymous1 said on 2009-10-19 @ 17:53 NZDT: Report abusive post
As a male survivor of childhood rape & sexual torture, ACC-funded counselling has enabled me to go from being completely & utterly unable to function, to being able to participate constructively in society and hold a full-time job.I now pay $30k+ pa tax - substantially more than the total cost of my counselling & am more than happy to, in the hope that at least some of that money will go toward enabling others to become survivors instead of "victims".These "changes" are short-sighted & cruel!