More funds needed to support male survivors of sexual abuse
The CEO of Australia’s leading support organisation for male survivors of child sexual abuse has called for additional funding to reach more male survivors.
Craig Hughes-Cashmore – who formed the Survivors & Mates Support Network in 2011 – told news.com.au that support services like SAMSN were “buckling under demand.”
He said men were dying by suicide who were on the waitlist for help. “This is real. We’re losing people.”
General sexual assault services often had long waitlists between six and 12 months, but those specialising in male survivors were limited, Mr Hughes-Cashmore stated.
The 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse led to the launch of the National Redress Scheme in 2018 to help survivors access counselling and redress services.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said $142m was provided in the 2023-24 budget to support the Scheme for five years.
Mr Hughes-Cashmore has requested additional funding in a pre-budget submission to support all male survivors with specialist services, including those not sexually abused in institutions.
SAMSN’s focus is predominantly men in NSW.
“There’s a real urgency for governments to fund specialist community-based services for survivors. We need to give these people space to talk with peers and professionals, so they feel seen and understood. We need to give them some hope.”
The news.com.au article includes an interview with a male survivor of sexual abuse, who was six years old when his adoptive father abused him, his torment only ending when he ran away at the age of 16.
“What actually went on behind closed doors was an absolute disgrace,” said the man, who battled with substance abuse and homelessness until the 2017 Royal Commission gave him a forum to tell his story.
This led to attending SAMSN’s eight-week support group, hearing from other survivors and sharing his lived experience.
“Every human being has a voice that deserves to be heard,” he said.