Trauma Assistance
This year, we assisted 285 clients though the Royal Commission Community Based Support Service
(RCCBSS). This is a free service that provides comprehensive therapeutic support for people directly
and indirectly affected by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
In February, as part of this service the Royal Commission introduced the Inmate Engagement Strategy
which resulted in our practitioners providing ongoing phone support to inmates from Dillwynia,
Port Phillip (Victoria), Mid North Coast, Long Bay Medical Unit, Goulburn, Dawn De Laos, Bathurst
and Junee Correctional Centres, while also providing face-to-face support at Parklea Correctional
Centre.
Zoie’s Journey
Zoie was referred to the RCCBSS in Caringbah by a Mental Health worker at St George Hospital. Zoie
has a Bi-polar type 2 diagnosis and has struggled with food addiction for many years. Zoie lives with
her partner Tony, who she described as having rescued her from the brink of collapse when she was
22 years old. Zoie has been unemployed for many years but dreams of returning to work in floristry.
Zoie was tentative about counselling as previous attempts to work through her trauma history with
a health professional had led to a psychosis. Senior Practitioner, Jacqueline Dee, worked with Zoie to
develop a relationship built on trust.
“Zoie wanted to tell her story. I began assisting Zoie with her written submission for
the Royal Commission into Institutionalised Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in July
2014 and we completed this document in April 2015. Zoie was placed on a waiting list
for a Private Session with the Royal Commission in October 2014. Much of the work
we focused on was on trauma response and recovery psycho-education, managing
dissociation and dysregulation, gaining independence and deeper understanding.”
“On 28 July 2015, I accompanied Zoie as a support person to her Private Session with
the Royal Commission. Zoie describes the formal acknowledgement by Commissioner,
Andrew Murray, of her story as a pivotal point in her journey towards recovery.
As a support person, I found the entire process carefully considered and deeply
respectful.”
“Zoie’s mental health remains stable and she is continuing to improve her skills in
managing the psychosomatic impacts of her trauma history. Zoie will begin work
experience at a local Florist next week and will continue to attend our support
service.”
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