This page outlines the supports available for families and loved ones of victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in a Victorian government school.
Further information, guidance and resources for supporters of a person who has experienced complex trauma including child sexual abuse is available at Blue Knot Foundation.
Supporting a family member or loved one who has been sexually abused
When someone you care about tells you they’ve been sexually abused, it can be hard to know what to say or do. You might feel shocked, upset, or unsure if you’re helping in the right way.
Some guidance:
- Start by listening. Let them share what they want to share, in their own time. Believe them. Thank them for trusting you. Remind them it was not their fault — the blame is always on the person who caused harm.
- Follow their lead. They may want to talk, or they may just want to sit quietly together. Try not to push for details or decisions. Instead, let them know you’ll be there, no matter how long it takes.
- Know that the journey towards healing can take time, some days will feel harder than others.
If you are supporting someone through this, remember to look after yourself too. Supporting someone through trauma can be hard. It’s okay to reach out for your own support – you’ll be better to able to help them if you’re looking after your own wellbeing.
Community supports for family members
Specialist support services and helplines offer support for children and adults who have been victims of abuse. They can also provide advice about support options for family members.
All of the services listed on Support services for victim-survivors of child sexual abuse can provide support for family members and/or loved ones too.
Counselling assistance payments for families of victim-survivors
The Department of Education can offer to pay for up to 20 counselling sessions to current and former students who report they have been sexually abused at a Victorian government school by an adult working in that school. These payments are known as counselling assistance payments and help survivors of sexual abuse access private counselling services.
This offer is also available to immediate family members who have been impacted by the abuse perpetrated on their family member.
Important things to know:
- The program is open to any person who was sexually abused while they were a student at a Victorian government school, by an adult who was working at that school.
- It is also open to immediate family members of those students. You could be eligible if you are a parent, child, sibling or in an intimate personal relationship with them.
- You can access up to 20 fully funded sessions with a practitioner of your choice.
- In addition to telling us the name of the student, their school and the person who harmed them, we’ll ask you for some information about your connection with the student.
Please see Counselling support for victim-survivors for further details on how the program works.
For more information, and to get the form that’s right for you as a family member, please contact the department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team by calling 03 9057 4500, or emailing rest@education.vic.gov.au.
Support for parents and guardians through the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme
If you are the parent or guardian of someone who has been sexually abused, you can also access the Victorian Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS).
To get assistance through FAS, the matter needs to have been reported to the police but it doesn’t matter whether any charges were laid.
FAS provides financial assistance to victims, as well as their parents and guardians, to help them recover from injuries or trauma that have resulted from sexual abuse.
FAS helps with costs that arise from this, such as:
- counselling
- medical expenses
- loss of earnings
- other expenses that may help you recover.
As a parent or guardian, you have 10 years from the time of the offence to apply for the FAS scheme.
For information, visit Financial assistance for secondary victims | victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au.
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