Thanks to every one of our 12,674 Supporters, our Petition was tabled in Victorian Parliament yesterday! Your support has already made a difference, with the real interest shown by media in what we are asking the Victorian government to do, and why. Actions the government can take, that would save lives and reduce the pain and suffering for Victorian survivors of childhood sexual abuse, their families and communities.

We have been advised that Channel 9 is planning to run their coverage of our Petition and why it matters, as a weekend feature, this weekend. We are also expecting to talk with the Ballarat Courier today.

We are so grateful, that in addition to the 12,674 Petitioners standing with us, that we have Stuart Grimley MP and his wonderful staff, standing with us and all survivors and their families. Yesterday Tania Maxwell MP and Derryn Hinch also stood with us at Victorian Parliament. View some footage of your Petition in action yesterday via the following link.

Stuart Grimley MP Tabling our Petition in Victoria Parliament

So what happens next?

We have asked to speak with the Victorian Minister for Health, Martin Foley MP, about piloting integrated service systems in Ballarat and Bayside communities, based on the principle of 'no wrong door'. That behind any welfare, community, substance abuse, mental health, physical health, disability, education, police, prison, justice, homelessness, unemployment, relationship difficulties, and child and family services door, there is a shift from asking 'What's wrong with you?' to asking 'What happened to you?' Providing safe places for disclosure that result in access to the specialist services and supports needed for healing and recovery from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.

We will continue to talk with peak bodies, and services providers, who are also advocates for 'no wrong door.'

We will continue to talk with NSW Health, which since 2018 in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, has implemented an integrated services framework based on 'no wrong door.'  And encourage the Victorian Department of Health to work with their NSW counterparts, to learn from, and adapt and adopt a model that is already increasing accessibility to specialist services and supports for Australian survivors and their families.

Survivors living in Wodonga shouldn't have less access to specialist services and supports than their neighbours living on the other side of the Murray River, in Albury.

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress our Petition is making, towards significant and meaningful change.

Your support has mattered, and continues to matter, to all Victorian survivors, their families and communities.

We are so grateful, and humbled to be 12,674 Supporters Strong! Thank you.