29 May 2016

Counselling boost tipped for sex abuse victims

6:22 pm on 29 May 2016

Sexual abuse victims may get more government-funded counselling, ACC Minister Nikki Kaye says.

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye

Nikki Kaye Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley

Victims of sexual abuse are currently offered up to 44 hours of therapy and support, but must be diagnosed with what's called a mental injury to qualify for more.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye said there was a possibility that could change.

"If they want to go through a process, potentially around weekly compensation, everybody's been, you know, working to find the best possible process around that assessment," she said.

"This is a complicated area, you know we owe it to those victims to continue to work on it and see if we can improve it."

Ms Kaye said she would meet with people in the sector to see if any adjustments were needed.

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