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Victim Support's plan to improve regional-based assistance to victims of crime has been boosted by funding in this year's Budget.
Funding of $2 million over the next four years will mean that Victim Support can introduce a regionally-based professional management structure to improve the quality and consistency of the services it offers to victims of crime.
The funding will provide for the appointment of district managers to cover each of the 14 Victim Support districts.
Each manager will be responsible for ensuring that victims get the assistance they need, delivered by properly trained and professionally supported volunteer workers.
They will also be responsible for organising local fundraising.
Victim Support has a long-standing goal of providing professional, case-specific support to victims throughout New Zealand.
The additional funding will help them meet that objective, and it also demonstrates the Government's on-going commitment and support for victims' rights.
This funding will complement the extension and strengthening of victims' rights in the Victims' Rights Act passed in December of last year.
Victim Support was established in 1986 as a community-based voluntary organisation. It has over 1500 volunteer workers in 67 locations across the country available to support to victims on a 24-hour basis.
Last year Victim Support responded to over 100,000 incidents and provided support and assistance to over 135,000 victims.
Medical misadventure provisions in the ACC scheme are to get a revamp.
Consideration of the ACC medical misadventure scheme by government agencies in the past 12 months has found it works well in comparison to equivalent schemes in other countries.
It is a superior alternative to seeking remedies through the courts.
Nevertheless, some claimants and health professionals see the current provisions as being unfair, confusing or arbitrary. I agree. It will be in everybody's interest to see these provisions improved.
The government has decided that any changes made as a result of the review would not be linked to a levy on health professionals.
Accordingly, the costs of medical misadventure would continue to borne by people who are earning and by the Government, which will contribute around half the costs.
The primary reason for the review is to see if we can make the ACC medical misadventure provisions more fair and consistent.
The document, Review of ACC Medical Misadventure, will be available from the ACC and Department of Labour web sites and the closing date for submissions is Friday, 4 July, 2003.
While on the subject of ACC it is heartening to see people who are injured will pay less for some treatment and rehabilitation services, due to funding announced in the Budget.
The aim is to ensure injured people received the best treatment and rehabilitation available, as well as to minimise the cost.
This year's ACC Budget package is a good step in that direction.
Currently, for example, physiotherapists charge anything up to $35 for a treatment session. Our aim is that, from 1 April next year, a person receiving physio treatment from an ACC-endorsed physiotherapist will not incur any charges.
An extra $35.5 million over four years has been allocated for initiatives to reduce treatment costs for injury and ensure high quality services.
Although last week was recess it proved to be very busy for me.
On Monday I travelled to the top of the electorate and visited Elsthorpe and Omakere schools. While I was in the area I used Rick Barker's Waipukurau office to meet constituents and I would like to say thank you to everyone who made me feel so welcome.
On Tuesday I visited Kuranui College and was delighted to be asked to read to pupils at Carterton's South End School. The children had put a lot of effort into their costumes for the day and I was lucky enough to see these during their parade.
One of the select committees I sit on met during the week and I had engagements through to Sunday.
Congratulations to the Wairarapa College team who took out the regional secondary schools stage challenge.
Maybe we have some budding Hollywood stars waiting to be discovered. Good luck for the nationals.
Also I take my hat off to those who took part in the mid-winter swim at Masterton's swimming pool, held in support of Violence Free Wairarapa.
A very bracing way to start the day!
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