$15K TO BE RAISED TO SUPPORT 6 SEXUAL EXPLOITATION SURVIVORS

Throughout June, HerSpace is running the fundraising campaign “Her name is…” with the intention of

raising $15,000 to provide mental health support to 6 women survivors of sexual exploitation that are

currently on our waiting list.

With 5 days of the campaign remaining, we still need help raising $10K. The needs of women who have

been sexually exploited are serious and HerSpace is seeking for some financial support to ensure no

women is left waiting to receive mental health support.

It is estimated that 69,219 women and girls are affected by sexual exploitation each year in Australia. This

figure is based on the brothel, trafficking, street-based, under-aged and forced marriage components of

the sex trade.

Since 2015, HerSpace has supported 28 women with 12 months of 1-on-1 counselling session as well as

group mental health support. Both our 1on1 and group programs have waiting lists and we need more

funds to meet the needs of women arriving at our door-step. We do not want to turn women away, we

want to respond to their courage in reaching out for support to address their emotional, psychological and

social needs.

Women who come to HerSpace have survived years if not decades of daily imposed or choice-less

sex-work. The impacts include post-traumatic stress disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation,

debilitating anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks which all get in the way of women making their own

choices towards lives of safety.

Given the extremely high rates of mental health issues it is essential to address sexual exploitation

survivors’ emotional needs and support their journey towards healing and recovery.