Page created by the NWJC for CASA House 12 May '98
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        Phone-in Against Sexual Assault - Victoria (Australia)

        Sunday, May 24 from 10.00am till 10.00pm

        Monday, May 25 from 8.00am till 8.00pm

        The numbers to call are  9344 2530 or  (free call) 1800 065 718.

       nomore.Each day in Victoria at least 60 people are sexually assaulted.  In working to address this, Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault are conducting a Phone-in Against Sexual Assault.   Jean Cameron, the co-ordinator of CASA House says,
         
          "The Phone-in is an opportunity for us to collect more information about how women’s lives are affected by sexual assault.  These womens’ stories will assist us to advocate for the rights of all victim/survivors and work towards ensuring quality support services are made available."
      The Phone-in Against Sexual Assault will be held over two days; Sunday, May 24 from 10.00am till 10.00pm, and Monday, May 25 from 8.00am till 8.00pm.  The numbers to call are 9344 2530 or  (free call) 1800 065 718.
         
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      Phone-ins have shown to be an effective strategy for gathering information about sexual assault.  The Phone-in is confidential.  Callers will not be asked to provide their names.   Jean Cameron says, "The responses to previous phone-ins have shown that women who may have felt unable to report their experiences to authorities, or may have been unable to access services, can anonymously record the violence perpetrated against them.
         
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      Many sexual assault victim/survivors do not report to the police or seek help from agencies.  Many survivors of sexual assault do not identify the violence that has been perpetrated on them as a crime, particularly if the offender is someone they know.  As one survivor said,
      "I went out with this guy and he wanted it and I didn’t and he forced me.  I don’t know if you call that rape.  It sort of frightened me at the time ... I know I didn’t get beat up or anything like that, but it was something I wouldn’t like to happen again."
         
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      The phones will be answered by women who will assist callers to respond to set questions.   Women answering the phones are fluent in Vietnamese, Greek, Turkish, Spanish, Italian and Arabic, as well as English.  Interpreter services are also available. Sexual assault counsellor/advocates from Victorian CASA’s will be available to provide support and information to callers, if required.

      If you would like to find out more about the Phone-in, please call the Project co-ordinator Marg D’Arcy at CASA House on (03) 9347 3066   email: darcym@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au

         
         
         

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