One in four women under 18 have been affected by sexual violence in Australia and the team at Whitsunday Counselling and Support are ready to help anyone in the region to give them hope and create change both locally and within the national narrative.
October is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, a time of year when you will notice a range of initiatives to help create conversation and bring the subject to the fore.
Charlotte Jones, a Counsellor at Whitsunday Counselling and Support said that they are hosting several community stalls over the month.
Located outside Coles, Airlie Beach Foreshore and Proserpine these information stalls will welcome conversation and the fully qualified counsellors will be able to offer assistance through their free service.
During October Whitsunday Regional Council Libraries will also have informative posters appearing on the computer screens to raise awareness.
In Bowen, they will be placing ‘myths and realities’ on the Bowen Jetty to help identify any misrepresentations.
There will also be a stall at Proserpine State High School’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
“Our initiatives allow people to open up conversation about it,” said Ms Jones.
“It doesn’t need to be a taboo subject; they don’t need to be embarrassed about it.”
Whitsunday Counselling and Support’s free sexual violence program is for anyone over the age of 12 that’s been impacted by sexual violence.
“They could have witnessed, heard or seen something - they don’t have to be victim/survivor themselves,” Ms Jones explained.
“It’s on a big continuum which includes harassment and inappropriate comments all the way through to rape.
“There is no right or wrong, if you feel something violated you – words, touch, whatever – if it didn’t feel right to you, it’s sexual violence.”
This years’ theme is help, hope, change – its aim is to raise awareness of how to help someone, give them hope that their situation will get better and then look at ways to change the bigger picture.
“It’s starts by believing – I believe you, I’m on this path with you,” said Ms Jones.
Caption: Your friendly staff at Whitsunday Counselling and Support Courtney Elkins, Amanda Jensen, Tayla Pearson and Niamh Mulvihill
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