Groups & Programs
CASACV Programs
Safe, Thriving and Connected Program
The Safe, Thriving & Connected (STC) Program is a therapeutic family violence recovery program for victim/survivors of family violence in the Loddon Campaspe area.
The STC Program is delivered by the Loddon Gender Equality and Violence Prevention Consortium, which is made up of the Centre for Non-Violence, Annie North Women’s Refuge, Cobaw Community Health Centre, Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria, and Women’s Health Loddon Mallee.
The STC Program provides a range of trauma-informed and evidenced based therapeutic services to support recovery from family violence. This includes individual counselling, dyad (parent/child) counselling and therapeutic groupwork.
For more information and referral to the STC Program please visit the Centre for Non-Violence Website or call the Centre for Non-Violence on (03) 5430 3000
REFOCUS
Who is it for?
REFOCUS helps children (aged 4-18 years) who are displaying harmful sexual behaviours, to stop problematic behaviours and re-establish age and stage appropriate sexual development. REFOCUS is an intensive intervention program run by trained clinical staff. Trained counsellors work with everyone in the child or young person’s life – including family, carers, schools and other supports. Our counsellors provide guidance and support as well as advocacy to child protection and other involved agencies.
How does the REFOCUS program work?
The program develops safe and responsible ways of behaving by the young person through addressing and acknowledging the previously caused harm. Following a referral a thorough assessment is undertaken of the child and their situation. We tailor our programs depending on the child’s age and their cognitive development we create a tailor-made program designed to treat behaviours.
What happens in the program?
The program is an evidence based therapeutic program, and utilises a range of therapeutic approaches (including play based and art therapy-based elements) to engage the child in the journey to healing.
Counselling for caregivers and family members
REFOCUS also offers individual counselling to family members and caregivers so they can help the child restore safe and respectful behaviours. CASACV also runs psycho-educational support groups for parents with children displaying problem sexual behaviours.
Theoretical framework
The REFOCUS program reflects the principals of the CEASE Standards of Practice Guidelines.
For more information about this topic please see our Children and adolescents displaying problem sexual behaviours - Facts Sheet
How can my child join this program?
Referrals can be made by parents, school staff, Victoria Police or DHHS Child Protection. Participation can be voluntary with family support, or can be a requirement of child protection as part of a therapeutic treatment order program (if it is court directed).
For more information about if a child or adolescent are eligible for the REFOCUS Program, please read our CASACV Eligibility Guidelines
Therapeutic Treatment Order Program
Where child protection have been involvement and intervention is required court orders are put in place to ensure the child or young person participate in therapeutic treatment. Feedback to Child Protection is required to assess progress.
Sexual assault support groups
Sexual assault and sexual abuse support groups
If you have experienced a sexual assault or sexual abuse in the past you feel confused and isolated with an inability to trust those around you. Research has shown that participating in a support group (also known as therapeutic groupwork) can be as beneficial as individual counselling — though for different reasons.
Some of the unique differences of groupwork include:
- the power of the group to mitigate loneliness, validate experiences, help rebuild trust and hope of recovery, empowerment, alleviating feelings of shame and blame, challenging own narratives, and acceptance of the different stages and paces of healing;
- increased sense of social connection; and
- reduction in trauma, anxiety and symptoms of depression.
Groupwork can also be a good introduction to individual therapeutic work.
Our support groups have a range of focuses though all aim to build trust and restore hope.
Our past groupwork programs have included:
- art therapeutic focus for women;
- a men’s only therapeutic group;
- young women asserting themselves group;
- young people with an intellectual disability; and
- psycho-educational groups for parents with children displaying problematic sexualised behaviours.
