Women in the Moreton Bay and North Brisbane area affected by sexual assault will now have greater access to support with a new service to soon be established in the region.

State Member for Morayfield, Mark Ryan MP, said Laurel Place would receive $260,000 this year to operate a local sexual assault service.

“This new funding will give victims of sexual assault in the Moreton Bay region better access to counselling, information, advice and referrals to help them deal with the trauma and distress associated with both recent and historical abuse,” Mr Ryan said.

“This much-needed local service, which will be up and running soon, will provide targeted, face-to-face support for victims of sexual assault.

“Sexual assault support services are vital in assisting women to recover from this appalling form of abuse and to help them rebuild their lives.”

Laurel Place is one of five organisations across the state to share $5.2 million over the next five years for new sexual assault services.

The new services also support the implementation of the Queensland Women’s Strategy that was launched on 9 March 2016 and includes safety as one of four priority areas for action over the next five years.

For more information on the sexual assault services and the Queensland Women’s Strategy, visit www.communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices