Planned Support & Counselling
Support tailored to your needs
Individual planned support is based on the needs identified by male survivors and draws from the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. We use a collaborative approach in our aim to achieve a wrap-around support for all survivors we work with.
This involves partnering or walking alongside survivors and their families to provide practical support in dealing with agencies such as Centrelink, Housing, Victims Services, National Redress Scheme, Police, Counselling Services and the legal system.
SAMSN employs clinicians with specialist skills as well as those with lived experience to provide this service. SAMSN workers can accompany survivors to interviews, set up appointments, make calls on behalf of survivors, advocate for access to services, assist with navigating government systems and finding ways to resolve difficulties, as well as referrals to other agencies.
SAMSN also has a specialist trauma-informed counsellor who can provide short term counselling and assist survivors and their supporters to access longer term counselling if needed. This service can be provided either in-person or over the phone.
Common reasons for contacting SAMSN
Need to talk
Talk with a mate who can relate
Trouble in relationships
Professional support and counselling for survivors, family and supporters
Struggles with drugs, alcohol and gambling
Help to understand the impacts of abuse and tools to assist recovery
Need help dealing with impact like flashbacks
Help to understand the impacts of abuse and tools to assist recovery
Dealing with feelings of guilt and shame
Help to understand the impacts of abuse and tools to assist recovery
Need practical and emotional support
Links to helpful readings and resources
Feeling isolated
Connection with other survivors
Overwhelmed by debt, work and other life issues
Practical assistance in dealing with housing, victim services and Centrelink
Seeking justice
Help reporting to the police, legal services, seeking national Redress and compensation
Supporters & Survivors Workshop
Find Resources
I hold dear the idea that every person has the right to safety (physical and emotional), to justice and to dignity and to feel whole. It is a privilege and honour to walk alongside someone, who has been burdened by the violence done to them, as they find safety and challenge previously held views about themselves and their relationships.
I believe everyone has the strength to be the leader of their own life, but for some of us, that strength is taken away. Through SAMSN I have the opportunity to support people in finding that again. This might be achieved simply through help filling out a form, by phone call support, or an office visit once a week; but not much compares to walking alongside someone, and watching as they take back the power and control they forgot they had.
SAMSN are committed to the provision of a safe place for men to seek the support required to achieve self-recognition. My role provides individualised support in acknowledgment that men’s experiences are individual and the supports that are helpful for them may differ to what is helpful for another. In my role, I focus on supporting the development of a framework for success, trust, respect, empowerment and consistency in service delivery.