Great to see mainstream media coverage about what we're already talking about with various Victorian non-government organisations, including the peak body, Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SAS Vic) 4 days ago. We shared all the reasons why trained trauma informed peer support specialists must be adequately funded by governments, for individual counselling, group facilitation, and healing retreats.

SAS Vic did take onboard the importance of healing retreats, listening to the lived experience of male survivors, for which we're very thankful. 

We're also so grateful that being 12,148 Petitioners strong, is continuing to open doors for us to be able to have these important conversations. 

Every single conversation we have with key sector stakeholders, is another step forward to our having a meeting with The Hon. Martin Foley, Minister for Health. So please keep sharing our petition, it's working!

"Central to its unique service model are trauma-aware and healing-focused professionals who understand and appreciate the challenges so often faced by male survivors. For survivors to recover and heal, they need access to counselling, group work and peer support. Without these specialist services, many will continue to experience the debilitating impacts of their childhood trauma. They will continue to call on the health and welfare systems to meet their medical and economic needs.

We implore the government to reinstate funding for support groups, which are just as crucial as our other services. It is imperative that all governments fully invest in specialist services to engage with survivors who are struggling. The social and economic costs of not doing so affect us all. This is a human rights issue. All survivors deserve to be reminded that we see them, they matter, and that hope is not lost."
Craig Hughes-Cashmore is the managing director and chief executive of Survivors & Mates Support Network.