Support group formed in Ballarat to help victims of abuse

The group, Moving Towards Justice, was formed from a bereavement support group within the St Columba’s parish.

Moving Towards Justice spokesman Frank Sheehan said while its main emphasis was on sexual abuse victims, there was also growing recognition of terrible physical abuse.

“We do not want the tragedies of the past to happen again,” Mr Sheehan said.

“While financial assistance is not the priority of survivors of abuse, the turmoil that results in their lives requires that, in some instances, short-term financial difficulties need to be addressed.”

Mr Sheehan said a small number of “survivor packages” funded by group member donations had been provided to people referred to them by counsellors.

“It is paramount that survivors see that people are prepared to show them that someone cares,” he said.

“In some cases, the families of the survivors, as well as the survivors themselves, have been shunned by neighbours once their plight has become known. Where is the Christianity in that?

“Currently, we are in the process of assisting with the formation of a group of professional counsellors.

“This is in recognition of the need of many survivors and their families to have services available to assist them to live their lives to the fullest extent possible.

“We have come to recognise that a range of medical and para-medical services are needed to allow survivors and their families to progress to a better and functional lifestyle.”

Mr Sheehan said at the forefront of the group’s activities was the hideous breach of trust perpetrated on the victims.

“Assisting where possible with the healing process is central to (the group’s) action.”

Sexual abuse survivor Peter Blenkiron, who often acts as a conduit between the group and other survivors, said it was fantastic a group of Ballarat citizens had also become sick of “the rhetoric and the spin”.

He also said the survivor packages were priceless.

“When you’re hurting and you’re in trouble, for someone to say ‘what can we do?’ goes far beyond the dollar value.” 

fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au