A BALLARAT abuse survivor has welcomed a $5 million state government commitment to increase the sexual assault services across Victoria.
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It comes as Ballarat's Centre Against Sexual Assault says it saw a 30 per cent increase in referrals through the month of February at the height of high-profile sex assault cases including the conviction of George Pell.
The State Government funding will see $5 million given to 19 services across the state over the next two years. The Ballarat CASA will receive $700,000 of that amount which it hopes to be able to assist a further 400 abuse survivors.
Ballarat's Gary Sculley said the hardest part was initially coming forward and he hoped this funding would encourage others to do so.
"Myself and a lot of other survivors are quite a sensitive bunch and we feel that we are really attune to other survivors who we often see as being worse off than ourselves," Mr Sculley said.
"You feel that there is a sense of putting someone out and you feel you need to step back again a bit, that seems to be the general feeling of survivors.
"When you see that funding coming forward it great for all survivors because we always feel the need to help others."
CASA operations director Shireen Gunn said the service was expecting more people to come forward in coming months.
"I did look up the statistics and I'm aware that February was quite a heavy coverage for sexual assault cases and over that time we had a 30 per cent increase of referrals coming in," she said.
"What's interesting about the statistics is that it shows the referrals that have come forward, but what also happened was a lot of people did ring our service and they weren't looking for ongoing counselling, but they are looking for support when they ring in on that day.
"CASA is aware there will be intense media focus (when the George Pell appeal is heard in June) which will have an affect on our clients and the community, we would be encouraging people at that time to take care of themselves and to be contacting the service if they need support."
Mr Sculley who is a member of CASA's men's support group said the service offered to survivors was unique.
"I don't think there's any other place in Australia that does this services. The model CASA's got should be looked at for taking forward across the country," he said.
"I hope this encourages more to come forward. I know there are ones sitting the contemplating and everyone knows about it, it's just that initial picking up the phone and talking about it. If they contact CASA they'll find it's the best decision of their lives.
"It's been amazing for me. I lived in a world of shadows and in a really murky lifestyle and if there was a light or a spark, I couldn't see it.
"One of the greatest tools that CASA's got its like a special set of glasses and they ask you to pick them up and put them on and when you do, you can see the light and as you work with CASA it gets bigger and bigger and you end up having a better life, that's what it's all about."
Prevention of Family Violence Minister Gabrielle Williams said it was incumbent on government to provide ongoing support to victims.
"We know that this is particularly important for this community here in Ballarat, a community that has been impacted by institutional sexual assault and abuse," Ms Williams said.
"It's particularly pressing at this time due to wide spread coverage of some high profile sexual abuse cases including the conviction of George Pell.
"We are absolutely committed to making sure victims of sexual assault have access to the services and support they need to rebuild lives on the back of extreme trauma."
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