Interns complete training to help family, sexual violence survivors

Six interns have recently completed a training programme to equip them with skills to counsel and help survivors of family and sexual violence through a counselling telephone hotline service.
The internship programme was designed to give the telephone counsellors exposure to a diverse range of people representing these populations – a beneficial and educational experience for the interns as well as counselling staff.
The six interns completed two week placements at the hotline between April and June 2017.
The Oil Search Foundation grant support office in a statement said: “The internships provided a great two-way exchange of information – key population members shared their personal stories with the hotline staff, and hotline staff helped the interns understand that members of key populations are free to call the hotline if they are affected by violence.”
Wesh Siku, ChildFund PNG hotline manager said the hotline was open to all survivors of gender-based violence.
“Individuals from key populations can be reassured that if they call the hotline, no one is going to judge them. The 1-Tok Kaunselin Helpim Lain is open for all survivors of GBV to call, no matter what their backgrounds,” he said.
The 1-Tok KaunselinHelpim Lain, 7150 8000, was launched in Aug 2015 and delivers a comprehensive counselling and referral service for survivors of family and sexual violence through a national toll-free hotline.  The counselling service provides survivors and their families an immediate and comprehensive support package which includes access to information, referral to nearby service providers, and personal and confidential counselling.
The hotline is staffed by professional counsellors available 12 hours a day and is available in Papua New Guinea’s three national languages – English, Tok Pisin, and Hiri Motu. The hotline is managed by Child Fund PNG in
partnership with the National Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee and FHI360.