Sexual abuse survivors fight back after support is cut

Feeling neglected by the Government’s ACC shake-up, a group of sexual abuse survivors, counsellors and therapists have taken action.
Those who have been sexually abused are now required to prove a mental illness to get help and are now only given 16 weeks of counselling.
Survivors of Sexual Abuse NZ (SOSA) have organised a summit to be [...]

Tourists claiming free healthcare under ACC

ACC is providing free treatment to international tourists and sportspeople who injure themselves while in the country – despite coming under fire recently for cutting services to New Zealanders.
ACC hiked its levies at the end of 2009, raising the total amount a person on the average wage pays ACC each year by $180. It has [...]

Help at last on the horizon for sexual abuse victims

Sexual abuse victims are hoping a review of ACC’s Sensitive Claims Pathway will finally bring them the counselling they need.
The pathway, implemented on October 27, last year introduced a requirement for victims to prove mental injury with a clinical diagnosis, often requiring them to undergo multiple assessments before a decision on their claim was made.
The [...]

ACC denying legitimate hearing claims

Accident Compensation Corporation is denying hearing aid funding for people with debilitating hearing loss ahead of planned funding changes, say audiologists.
The policy, which will apply a six per cent hearing loss threshold to injury claims is already disadvantaging applicants in need of serious help, say hearing professionals.
The new policy cuts off patients who would previously [...]

Blog: A letter to Pita Sharples

Shame on you Pita. I had high hopes for you in November last year, and all you’ve seemed to do is roll over at the slightest mention of a tummy-scratch from your old mat Johnny Boy. Backing the new ACC levies? How could you. Aren’t you meant to be the champion of those over-represented in [...]

Day of protest against ACC – Audio

Protestors took to the streets of Auckland on Monday to demonstrate against proposed changes to ACC’s sexual abuse counselling funding.

More than 200 people gathered in Albert Park to hear guest speakers and show their support for survivors of sexual abuse, before making their way on the march.

The demonstration was one of four taking place around [...]

Sexual abuse victims set to suffer from ACC cuts

Cuts to ACC could have a lasting effect on survivors of sexual abuse as counselling support criteria are tightened.
The new regulations will be coming into place from 27 October.
Under the proposed changes a sexual assault victim must now talk with three separate ACC therapists before they are eligible for counselling support. Prior to the ACC [...]