Promising Practice Programs
Southern Sexual Abuse Counselling and Prevention Program
| Agency | SECASA (South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault) East Bentleigh, Vic |
| Website | http://www.secasa.com.au/ |
| Contact | Carolyn Worth, Coordinator Ph: (03) 9928 8741 |
| Start date | June 2001 |
| End date | Ongoing |
| Program type | Offender program |
| Geographical area | Local community, urban and rural |
| Target group | Offenders |
| Description | Southern Sexual Abuse Counselling and Prevention Program (SSACPP) is an adolescent sex offender treatment
program for 10-17 year olds. It is a group based program that includes family and individual counselling. The objectives of the program are to enable the young males to take responsibility for their behaviour and hopefully not grow into adult offenders. |
| Promising practice examples | Takes account of contemporary research and practice developments in the field of sexual assault. Positions diversity as key to the development, understanding and delivery of good practice models. Contributes to improving systems' responses to sexual assault, or is directed at preventing sexual assault. Demonstrates a sensitivity towards the barriers faced by victim/survivors in disclosing and reporting sexual assault. Has a clearly defined conceptual framework. Includes processes of accountability and evaluation. Demonstrates a capacity for replication (i.e. other services/organisations could adapt/re-model the program for their use). There are very few such programs in Victoria. Although accepting young people on probation and court orders, this is predominantly a pre sentence diversionary program. |
| Based on existing program | Based on the Children's Protection Society / MAPPS program in Australia targeting adolescent offenders. The program has been modified over the past two years and is now unique in its approach. It focusses predominantly on responsibility and behaviour change in conjunction with parents and other family members. |
| Evaluation | External/independent. Conducted by Swinburne University Student supervised by Dr Grant Devilly. |