Victim Support Groups

Victims of crime often feel powerless, fearful and isolated for a long time after the event. These feelings can be intensified when family and friends find it difficult to imagine what you have experienced. Often support can be provided by other people who have been victims of crime.

Victim Support Service (VSS) offers a range of free victim support group programs to provide an opportunity for sharing experiences about coping after the crime and exchanging ideas about ways of dealing with the many effects of crime.

LATTE (Life After Threat Terror & Endangerment) GROUP

Victims of violent crime such as home invasion or armed hold-up can often experience a range of trauma reactions such as:

sleep disturbance
heightened sensitivity to normal events such as sounds
numbness
anger
an intense need for feeling safe and in control
physical ailments
loss of interest in aspects of life such as social gatherings, leisure time activities, work

This ongoing support group is for men and women who have experienced violent crime. Aims of the group include:

meeting other people who have been similarly affected by a traumatic crime.
sharing experiences & needs.
developing skills & knowledge that help to deal with the impact of crime.
having mutual support in a trusting environment.
finding ways of healing through sharing with others.
recognising the healing that has already occurred.

The LATTE Group is conducted once a month in the evening and is facilitated by counsellors from VSS.

MOVING FORWARD GROUP

The Moving Forward Group is a structured program for women who have been a victim of ANY criminal offence. It provides a safe opportunity to share with other women the many effects of the crime and to develop ways to cope. Some discussion topics include:

personal impact of crime and trauma
feelings and emotions
stress and relaxation
grief and loss
anger

Through exploring these ideas, the group aims to help women to make the transition from victim to survivor. Individual needs and child care are negotiable.

ACT (After Child Trauma) Group

The ACT Group is a structured program for women whose children have been sexually abused. This group is designed to support and assist women to feel less isolated as they attempt to cope with the feelings and challenges associated with being the parent/care giver.

The group will explore a range of topics including:

dynamics of child abuse
effects of child sexual abuse on children and ideas for parents to support children
challenging notions of “mother blame”
the legal system
exploring emotions such as anger, guilt and grief & loss

Women have the opportunity to share ways to support their children and develop coping strategies for themselves. Individual needs and child care are negotiable.