SOSA Response to ACC Review
The Independent review panel proposed 14 recommendations to ACC’s Clinical Pathway. Whilst ACC are yet to agree on all
recommendations, SOSA welcomed the immediate commencement of 16 counseling sessions granted to “new and/or existing
claimants.”
Ken Clearwater, SOSA Board Member who also spent two years as a member of TOAH-NNEST on the ‘ACC Service Improvement
Project’ in conjunction with Government for the Taskforce on Sexual Violence, is pleased “the Government has accepted
that the Clinical Pathways was damaging and want to make changes.”
SOSA President Gudrun Frerichs remains skeptical. “Although the report represents very well the concerns of survivors
and mental health professionals, the recommendations are formulated quite vague and give ACC a lot of room to dodge the
items.” Gudrun is concerned that whilst the recommendations are a step in the right direction, any improvement for
survivors hinges on the independent supervisory panel [yet to be established] to interpret those recommendations. “It
appears that ACC has actually not had a change of heart but is rather bowing down (reluctantly) to the pressure of the
review panel.”
There is no disputing that the recommendations made by the Panel are a positive step forward but concerns are being
raised about just how or if ACC will implement any of the proposed changes. Given the report by the Otago Daily Times
from Monday, 20 September, ACC plans to cut a further 1150 long term claimants from their list.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain public pressure for all those recommendations to be
implemented”, said Gudrun Frerichs.