Victorian Government hangs up on most needy

The Victorian Government is intending to hang up on one of the 
State's most used counselling services — the Victims of Crime 
Counselling Scheme. Last month 1000 psychologists from the 
Victims of Crime Counselling Scheme were advised their service 
would be phased out, and that it would be moved to the already 
overburdened and under-funded community health service.

Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) Assistant Secretary, Jim 
Walton said: "We have a very real concern about moving this 
service from the Victims Referral Assistance Service (VRAS) and 
Victim Counselling Scheme (VCS).

"This year alone, the VRAS has received 44,000 telephone calls 44 
percent of which were referred to counselling. The Counselling 
Scheme is used by Victorians throughout the state. Services in 
regional Victoria will be hit hardest.

Jim Walton said the changes would drastically affect isolated 
regional Victorians, and that there has been a suggestion that 
once the Victims of Crime Counselling Scheme is removed the 
entire VRAS will be abolished. If this happens who will answer 
44,000 telephone calls?

"We are calling on the Victorian Government to reassure the 
public that these changes will not result in a loss or reduction 
of service", Mr Walton said.

"This move by the Victorian Government has a tremendous affect on 
our members and the level of service which they provide", warned 
Dr Rosemary Kelly, Executive Officer of the Victorian 
Psychologists Association.

"These changes are simply ridiculous, particularly when you 
consider that in 2002 this service was used by victims of the 
Bali bombing and their families. Is the Premier able to guarantee 
that the same level of professional service will be available to 
the Victorian public should this happen again?

"Shifting a core public service to the community health system 
which is already under-funded and under-resourced will only 
compromise the level of care offered to Victorians", Dr Kelly 
said.