Reaching Out to Survivors in the Act: Culturally or Linguistically Diverse, Disabled and Older
Women Against Violence: An Australian Feminist Journal, Vol. 6, pp. 56-59, 1999
4 Pages Posted: 11 Jan 2010 Last revised: 20 Jun 2018
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Reaching Out to Survivors in the Act: Culturally or Linguistically Diverse, Disabled, and Older
Date Written: 1999
Abstract
The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC) currently runs an Aboriginal outreach/education program. Due to budgetary constraints, there is no equivalent programming for reaching other sub-populations who possibly have difficulties in getting help and/or who may be more vulnerable to sexual assault. Our collective decided a top priority was to identify needs and access issues for three other specific communities within the ACT region: the culturally and linguistically diverse (to be referred to as NESC/NESB - Non-English speaking cultures and backgrounds), the psychologically or physically challenged or disabled, and elderly women. CRCC does not include disability in routine data collection. The recording statistics do show that in 1997, of the 181 'new' women who received face to face counselling, 15% were from non-English speaking cultures (NESC). Over half (52%) of service users were aged under 30 years with only 9% ages 41-50, 3% ages 51-60 and nobody 61 and over. These figures do not correspond with the demographics in the ACT population and can mean either that the incidence of sexual assault is lower for NESC and older women or that disclosure and accessing assistance are less common for these women.
Keywords: sexual assault, women
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