SASVic is the peak body for specialist sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria. For more information visit sasvic.org.au

SASVic acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional and ongoing custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded and recognise First Nations peoples' right to self-determination and continuing connection to land, waters, community and culture.

SASVic also acknowledges victim survivors of sexual violence who we work for every day. We acknowledge the pervasive nature of sexual violence, and the impact that it has on survivors and their communities. We celebrate the powerful advocacy of survivors that is changing systems and policy.

SASVic Member Update

Hi everyone,

First, congratulations to NCASA Manager Caroline Whitehouse for her article in The Conversation about crisis care responses for children (see below). On the topic of crisis responses, we've sent SASVic member service leaders a new survey to fill out about problems for clients trying to access FMEs. We'll use this information as we again ramp up our advocacy on this big problem.

This week, SASVic welcomed two new staff, for two new projects. Welcome to Penny Drysdale, in our new Justice Navigator Project Lead role, and Hannah Webster, also in a new role, Civil Justice Project Lead (more details about what they'll work on below).

Tomorrow we'll have our 'Preventing Sexual Violence - what works?' conversation with Emily Maguire, Michael Salter and Fiona Vera Gray. We've had almost 400 people sign up from every state and territory, and overseas, with lots of people from the specialist sexual assault sector, as well as government, universities and others. It's clear there is a real interest in what we can really do to prevent sexual violence. See you (virtually) there!

Look forward to seeing many of you online tomorrow.

In solidarity,

Kathleen

CEO

SASVic

Contents

Join our Workforce Development Committee

The Workforce Development Committee provides advice to SASVic and support the ongoing implementation and development of education and training projects.

Express your interest
Join our Disability Inclusion Community of Practice

This CoP will be a safe space to support disability inclusivity and affirming service delivery and practices. To express your interest, email sharray.ash@sasvic.org.au.

Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to maria.papadontas@sasvic.org.au

A report by Centre of Advancing Women

At the end of last year, the Centre of Advancing Women published its report, 'Access to sexual assault services for refugee background women,' commissioned by SASVic.

The report details how mainstream sexual assault services can increase accessibility to victim survivors of sexual violence from East and North African and Middle Eastern backgrounds. The project includes interviews with COAW volunteers supporting survivors and explores the challenges they observed, including cultural taboos and shame, systemic failures and a lack of cultural responsiveness.

You can read the report on our website, which will soon be followed by a helpful tip sheet.

New Technology-Facilitated Abuse (TFA) Support Service

The eSafety Commissioner has launched a Technology-Faciliated Abuse (TFA) Support Service to provide guidance and advice to frontline workers. This builds on their online frontline services support hub.

Frontline workers can call 1800 710 385 on weekdays between 9am and 5pm or send a web enquiry with any questions they have about supporting survivors who have experienced technology-facilitate abuse, including image-based sexual abuse.

The eSafety Commissioner has asked this number not to be shared with clients.

Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to amy.webster@sasvic.org.au

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

New research

Sexual Assault Awareness Month begins next week.

If you're planning any events or campaigns over the month, please email comms@sasvic.org.au to let us know!

We'll be using the month to raise awareness about the change we need to see in Victoria in the lead up to the Victorian Budget on 20 May.

A new paper from Northern CASA Manager, Caroline Whitehouse

New research

On 17 March, Caroline Whitehouse, Peter McKenzie and Carmel Hobbs published, 'The First 72 Hours After Child Sexual Assault: Reporting Children, Young People and Mothers' Experiences of Police, Hospital and Psychosocial Care in Victoria'. As part of this research, Caroline interviewed ten children from 4-16 years of age and their parents about their experiences in the hours after an alleged assault. She says, 'This was a small group, but their stories shed light on wider concerns. Addressing them can help put children first in what may be the most traumatic time of their lives.'

Caroline also spoke about this research in The Conversation piece, 'I felt like I was the one in trouble.' Collecting evidence after sexual assault can be scary for children - and the system needs to improve.

Non-Fatal Strangulation Fact Sheet

New research

SASVic has published a new fact sheet on non-fatal strangulation (NFS).

The fact sheet includes definitions and key messages on:

  • NFS in the context of sex, sexual assault and family violence
  • NFS and serious harm and injury
  • responding to NFS
  • NFS legislation
  • SASVic advocacy.

Please email Monica Campo, monica.campo@sasvic.org.au, if you have any questions.

Insights on young people engaging in harmful and problematic sexual behaviour

New research

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) released a briefing this month titled, 'Insights on young people engaging in harmful and problematic sexual behaviour'.

The briefing uses insight from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline child welfare contacts to understand the perspectives of young people engaging in harmful and problematic sexual behaviour.

It found that some of the young people:

  • realised they had experienced abuse themselves
  • asked sex and relationship questions which demonstrated knowledge gaps around age-appropriate behaviours, consent, and legality
  • were having fantasies, thoughts and urges that they wanted to stop and did not want to act on
  • felt guilt, regret and shame about past behaviours
  • had sought help for their harmful sexual behaviours but had not received it.

The briefing includes quotes from children and young people, and parents.

Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to emily.roberts@sasvic.org.au

SASVic's Foundations in Sexual Violence short course kicks off this week!

Our two-week short course, Foundations in Sexual Violence, started this week. It has been wonderful to hear the discussion that staff from across the sector and beyond are having about topics like sexual violence in the media, pornography and feminist theory.

We're grateful to have Professor Fiona Vera-Gray from the Child and Women Abuse Studies Unit at London Metropolitan University here, alongside local speakers Jackie Bateman and Professor Michael Salter.

This short course follows last week's trainings, Foundations in Feminist Somatics and Untouched: Sex and Intimacy, with Susan Stark and Kendra Russell. It has been wonderful to see so many people from the sector in person.

Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to jacqueline.bell@sasvic.org.au

Survey: Victims' Charter Act Review

The Victims of Crime Commissioner (VOCC) is undertaking a review of the Victims' Charter Act. As part of the review, VOCC has a survey open for victims of crime, closing on Monday (31 March).

If you know someone who would like to share their experience as part of the review, please share the survey with them.

SASVic provided a written submission to this review, highlighting a number of key improvements that would make the Charter more useful, including:

  • improved and sexual violence specialised conciliatory mechanisms
  • the introduction of appropriately staged enforcement and accountability mechanisms, to encourage and improve compliance
  • the introduction of the right to have certain police and prosecution decisions not to prosecute reviewed 
  • the introduction of other enforceable legal rights of specific relevance to victim survivors of sexual violence, modelled off existing international human rights
  • the need for victim centered resources in various formats regarding the Victims' Charter.
  •    

Nominations open for the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards

The Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards recognise and reward good practice in prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia.

The Institute of Criminology is searching for projects of all sizes working toward a safer community that were fully operational before 1 February 2024.

Nominations close Thursday 17 April 2025.

ABC article: Sexual abuse survivor who had his teenage years 'stolen' finds community through group therapy

This past weekend, an ABC article shared Travis Finalyson's experiences of the justice system and accessing support through specialist sexual assault services. Travis is a survivor of child sexual abuse. His abuser was his uncle Arthur Eaton, a primary school teacher convicted of child sexual abuse of children at multiple schools.

In the piece, Travis talks about the counselling that he received from SE CASA and CASA House, and how group therapy was incredibly beneficial to him. He says, 'The way these guys listened to me, I didn't feel like I was being judged. I felt genuinely supported.' The article ends with the 'big learning' he wants to share with other survivors, 'From what we understand, there are a lot of survivors out there who are just walking around, living their life in silence...there are so many things you can do - some go through the judicial process, some sue the institution, some seek therapy. But one size doesn't fit all.'

Donovan Pill, a Counsellor Advocate from CASA House, was also interviewed about group therapy for the piece, 'A lot of the men who come to group sessions are intellectually aware of the statistics that tell them they're not alone, but it doesn't feel real until they get to group. It breaks down the feeling of isolation.'

New training from the NCACSA

The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (NCACSA) has launched a new online course, 'Understanding and responding to disclosures of child sexual abuse from children and young people.'

It helps participants to learn about the factors that influence disclosure, develop skills to respond with compassion and understand the role of workers and organisations in creating a safe and supportive environment.

The course is 3 hours long and costs $44.

Safe Steps Candlelight Vigil

The Safe Steps Candlelight Vigil will take place on Wednesday 7 May 2025, National Family Violence Remembrance Day, led by survivors and advocates.

The Vigil will honour and remember the people whose lives have been lost to family violence and provide a platform to share stories of resilience and hope.

Date: Wednesday 7 May 2025

Time: 6 - 6.45pm

Location: Family Violence Memorial Gardens, East Melbourne

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Keep up to date with training and event opportunities for the sector by visiting the SASVic Training Page

Contact:
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Webinars and events

Please check with your manager before registering, where appropriate.

Conferences

Sector calendar

Below are some of the meetings happening across the sector. Please contact the meeting chair to find out more, including how you can join networks or comittees related to your area of work and interests.

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