About GVCASA

The Goulburn Valley Centre Against Sexual Assault (GVCASA) is one of 18 specialist sexual assault support services throughout Victoria, that provide services to victim survivors of sexual assault and child sexual abuse, their non-offending family members, partners and friends. We do not provide services to adult perpetrators of sexual assault or abuse. Community and professional education are also an important part of our work.

Reaching out for help is often the first step towards healing. We recognise how important it is for victim survivors to feel confident in moving forward and healing. GVCASA aims to:

• Provide victim survivors of sexual assault with an opportunity to explore the range of services we offer to support their healing and growth.
• Create an enhanced understanding of sexual assault and its impacts.
• Raise awareness of the community education programs we offer.
• To provide information about resources available from GVCASA for victim survivors, their support people, professionals, and those interested in the prevention of sexual assault.

GVCASA is a member organisation of Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic), the peak body for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria. 

Our Mission

The mission of the GVCASA is to offer services in the local government areas of City of Greater Shepparton, Shires of Mitchell, Strathbogie, Murrindindi and Moira that will:

• Assist people who have been sexually assaulted to recover from the trauma of sexual assault.
• Work toward the reduced incidence of sexual assault within the community.

Clients’ Rights when Attending GVCASA

You will:

• Be heard and believed
• Be treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity.
• Be able to communicate in your own language with an interpreter or communication aide if necessary.
• Be supported in a way that is appropriate and sensitive to issues of culture, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality and level of development.
• Have control over your own choices and outcomes.
• Be given relevant legal, medical or social options.
• Have the right to access your counselling file.
• Have the right to make a complaint about our service if you are unsatisfied with our service.

Confidentiality

GVCASA will uphold the rights of clients to have confidentiality, privacy and control over decision making. Clients will be treated with dignity and respect. The rights and responsibilities of clients will be acknowledged and GVCASA will promote these rights and responsibilities of all clients who access counselling and support services.

Your confidentiality will be maintained in accordance with our confidentiality and acknowledgment procedure.

As per GVCASA’s Consent Guidelines, there are limitations to confidentiality. This means that if the counsellor advocate believes that a child is experiencing abuse, or is at risk of abuse, or that an adult client is at risk of harming themselves or someone else, information may need to be shared without consent to ensure the client’s safety, or the safety and wellbeing of their child(ren).

At GVCASA, we adhere and respect the rights on all clients including children and young people. Although involvement of the parent/guardian is seen as desirable and encouraged, the best interests of the child or young person should include listening to and hearing their view. Children and young people have the right to privacy of their information and to make their own decisions regarding their privacy where they are competent to do so (they are deemed a ‘mature minor’).