Victim support volunteers given a lifeline
About 20 volunteers attached to various local police stations in King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude districts started their training on Tuesday at Empangeni's Amble Inn, with the aim of improving their victim support services
WITH police crime statistics pointing to high level of sexual abuse and domestic violence, the KZN Department of Community Safety and Liaison has empowered its Victim Support Centre volunteers to ensure that victims get the support needed to recover from trauma.
About 20 volunteers attached to various local police stations in King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude districts started their training on Tuesday at Empangeni’s Amble Inn, with the aim of improving their victim support services.
According to the provincial Acting Research Director, Robert Chetty, the training project emanates from research conducted by the department, which indicated a need to improve services to victims of crime.
Chetty explained that the research pointed out that the victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence are not receiving adequate support.
‘The Victim support involves caring and being given a sensitive reception at the police station, trauma debriefing, immediate health interventions and immediate welfare safety interventions – but with avoidance of secondary trauma.
‘In many cases victims need ongoing psychological support, therapeutic counselling and support to engage in the investigative process and court support as well,’ he said.
The three-day training workshop was completed on Thursday.
Chetty indicated that after the training the volunteers will be capacitated to provide psycho-social support, counselling and victim empowerment services.
‘The service provider appointed to train the volunteers is LifeLine Zululand.
‘The Department is fortunate to have been able draw on the vast experience and expertise which LifeLine has in the area of victim empowerment and related fields,’ said Chetty.
‘The Department would like to deepen its partnership with LifeLine as we contemplate a wider roll-out of this the initiative to other parts of the province.
‘The training offered by LifeLine has been outstanding and has placed the young volunteers on a firm footing to perform the important tasks that lie ahead.’
