New pathway to Sensitive Claims Service to launch in September
We’re working with Whakarongorau Aotearoa | New Zealand Telehealth Services and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to develop a new pathway to the Sensitive Claims Service through Safe to talk.
Safe to talk is the nationwide helpline, run by Whakarongorau and funded by MSD, that provides free and confidential support and information to anyone affected by sexual harm. Through Safe to talk, people affected by sexual harm can get advice and support from trained specialists and be connected to support services in their community. Safe to talk is available 24/7 through text, webchat, phone, email and via www.safetotalk.nz.
The new pathway through Safe to talk will facilitate access to the Sensitive Claims Service and support survivors to find available ACC-funded therapy providers.
Through Safe to talk, survivors will be able to find information and be connected to services that are right for them. For some, that may be our Sensitive Claims Service, while for others that may be other services and supports available in the community.
Previously, the only way to find an ACC therapy provider was through the Find Support website, which required survivors to manually search for available providers in their preferred region. Once the new pathway is launched, survivors will be able to contact Safe to talk via text, webchat, phone or email for help finding an ACC therapy provider. Safe to talk will work directly with organisations (suppliers) that have ACC therapy providers to confirm their availability and connect survivors with them for therapy.
Safe to talk will also offer a check-in service to ensure survivors can get regular updates on progress to find an appropriate ACC therapy provider and navigate them to other supports they may need while they’re waiting.
The Find Support website will still be available with a directory of supplier organisations that have ACC therapy providers for survivors who wish to continue to manage the process themselves.
We plan to launch the new pathway through Safe to talk on 1 September 2025 after we make sure everything is in place and ready for survivors and the organisations that have ACC-funded therapy providers.
We’ll take a gradual approach to build this new pathway. Some functionalities will be available right away, while others will be added over time.
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.