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,
I hope that many of you are enjoy the time off, and a big thank you to the staff at SACL for their vital work over the long weekends.
We have a short update for you this week.
Below you'll find our upcoming training schedule. We have two SASVic Member Forums in May and June on older people and non-fatal strangulation, followed by our Clinical Supervision Training available to book for July. Training on supporting victims and survivors through the legal system is moving online in May, please encourage any new staff to sign-up to this four part series.
SASVic has started recruiting for a new Senior Multicultural Rights and Access Project Lead to scope out and implement work to strengthen collaboration between our sector and multicultural organisations. Please share the role with your networks.
In the lead up to the state budget on 20 May, we're hoping to generate some media attention on the need for an emergency response to school-based child sexual abuse and harm. Please let us know of anyone who might be interested in speaking to the media on this issue.
Finally, below you'll find a round-up of the policies related to family and sexual violence that candidates are taking to this federal election.
Warmly,
Emily Roberts
Acting CEO
Contents
Featured
How are candidates in this federal election planning to address sexual violence?
To help you stay informed in the lead up to the federal election, SASVic has rounded up the sexual and family violence policies of the major and minor parties, as well as the independent candidates in Victoria. See how Labor, the Coalition, the Greens, the "teal" independents and a range of minor parties compare in our policy round up linked below.
Major parties first sexual and family violence commitmens of this election campaign
With the federal election barely more than a week away, Labor and the Coalition have announced last-minute policies to address sexual and family violence.
On Monday, Peter Dutton announced the Coalition's plan to trial a national child sex offenders disclosures scheme. Based on existing schemes in WA and the UK, it would allow the public to request information from the police about whether someone is a convicted sex offender.
On Tuesday, Minister for Women Senator Katy Gallagher announced Labor's plans to address financial abuse, as well as an $8.6 million policy for "innovative" perpetrator responses, including electronic monitoring and ankle bracelets.
Then, on Wednesday, Dutton said the Coalition would create a national register of family violence offenders as part of a $90 million domestic violence policy. He also reiterated his plan for a Royal Commission into sexual abuse in Indigenous communities, an idea that has already been criticised by Indigenous groups.
The announcements follow criticism from advocates (including our national peak body, NASASV) that sexual and family violence, labelled a "national crisis" by the Prime Minister last year, were being forgotten in the major parties' campaigns.
Neither major party has committed to increased federal funding for the specialist sexual assault sector.
Opportunity for runners to fundraise for SASVic
As part of our ongoing work to create fundraising avenues for SASVic, we've created profiles that allow people to fundraise for us or donate to us when participating in running events.
We’re not asking you to fundraise, but it would be great if you could share these with any runners or walkers you know, or people who might want to get involved with a bit of fundraising for SASVic!
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival: 2025 Great Ocean Road Running Festival | Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic)
Run Melbourne: Run Melbourne 2025 | Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic)
Melbourne Marathon: 2025 NIKE MELBOURNE MARATHON FESTIVAL | Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic)
Frankston Running Festival : Frankston Running Festival 2025 | Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic)
Seeking your involvement
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 interestJoin 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.
Service Design & Improvement
We're recruiting! Senior Multicultural Rights and Access Project Lead
We're looking for an experienced and confident senior project officer to scope out and implement work to strengthen collaboration between specialist sexual assault services and multicultural organisations on sexual violence, including grassroots organisations. The details:
- two-year, fixed term contract
- FTE: 4-5 days a week
- base salary of $80,000 - $108,000 pro rata, depending on experience
- applications close 14 May.
Advocacy & evidence
Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to amy.webster@sasvic.org.au
SASVic's calls to build a sustainable specialist sexual assault workforce
This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we're calling on the Victorian Government to properly fund support for survivors of sexual violence.
This week, we're calling on the government to build a thriving specialist sexual assault sector, from investment in a formalised training program to modernising data systems.
If you're looking to get involved in the campaign, you can email your MP or send us de-identified case studies to demonstrate the need for change.
Email comms@sasvic.org.au if you have any questions or suggestions!
Media on child sexual abuse in schools
We're working on a media story regarding child sexual abuse and harm in schools and we're looking for services willing to speak to the media.
We want to highlight the need for an emergency response provided by the specialist sexual assault sector and showcase the value of your services.
Specifically, we are looking for someone to speak to how common it is for schools to get in touch with your services and to the typical school response.
The media always want to hear from real people, so we're also asking if you know anyone with personal experience that might want to speak to this issue.
Please email comms@sasvic.org.au for more information.
Workforce development
Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to emily.roberts@sasvic.org.au
Member services forum - Non-fatal strangulation
Non-fatal strangulation will be the topic at our member services forum on 25 June. Jackie McMillan & Courtney Artridge from Womens Health NSW will share the latest information on non-fatal strangulation and acquired brain injury in the context of domestic, family and sexual violence, and sexual choking. This training is free for SASVic members.
Date: Wednesday 25 June
Time: 10:30am - 12pm
Location: Online
Insights into working with Muslim communities
The Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights is offering training for individuals and organisations who work with Muslim clients. The training provides essential foundational knowledge to enhance cultural safety and provide culturally appropriate services.
When: Friday 16 May
Where: Online via Zoom
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: $54.26 per person
Clinical supervision training
This one day training on clinical supervision for the specialist sexual assault sector will cover the following:
- clinical supervision and its functions
- the purpose of supervision models
- frameworks that inform clinical supervision in the specialist sexual assault sector
- components of effective supervision
- how clinical supervision can support professional wellbeing.
Date: Thursday 3 July
Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Location: ANMF Carson Conference Centre, 535 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Standard Price: $160 (incl. GST) (SASVic members get a 25% discount)
Prevention
Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to jaeme.opie@sasvic.org.au
New data shows Gen Z men more likely to hold traditional gender beliefs than older men
Australian Gen Z men are more likely than Millennial and Gen X men to believe in traditional gender norms, new research from the e61 Institute has shown.
Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (Hilda) survey, the research found that while Gen Z women (those born 1997 - 2012) continued the trend of declining belief in traditional gender roles, Gen Z men were becoming more conservative. This was most notable in those aged 15-24.
Belief in traditional gender roles was calculated based on how much respondents agreed or disagreed with statements like "men make better political leaders than women do” and “it is better for everyone involved if the man earns the money and the woman takes care of the home and children”.
Article: How the discourse on boys' alienation is fuelled by anti-feminist agendas
Popular Netflix series Adolescence has sparked renewed discussion about the manosphere and its influence on teenage boys.
But the idea that boys are turning to the manosphere because they're being "alienated" or "shamed" for being male is a flawed argument that stems from anti-feminist reactionaries, argue academics Steven Roberts, Jackson Fairchild, Steph Wescott, Verity Trott and Helen Keleher in an article for Women's Agenda.
"A significant portion of boys’ alienation isn’t organic. It’s engineered."
Other news
Podcast for GPs: Supporting victims of sexual assault within a primary care setting
In this new podcast episode by HealthEd, sexual health physician Dr Ellie Freedman discusses responses to recent sexual assaults within general practice, including screening for sexual assault related strangulation. The podcast was produced as part of the Pathways Project, a Women’s Health NSW initiative.
GPs and healthcare providers can receive continuing professional development points by logging in or creating a HealthEd account, and listening to the podcast on the HealthEd website.
HealthEd is Australia's largest private provider of CPD for doctors.
Follow SASVic for more updates.
Professional Development
Keep up to date with training and event opportunities for the sector by visiting the SASVic Training Page
Webinars and events
Please check with your manager before registering, where appropriate.
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.
Date: Wednesday 7 May 2025
Time: 6 - 6.45pm
Location: Family Violence Memorial Gardens, East Melbourne
Conferences
ANROWS National Conference
Join ANROWS to listen, learn and act, and gather with a shared purpose: to centre children and young people at the heart of the work to end domestic, family and sexual violence.
Date: 14 - 16 May
Location: 14 & 15 May online, 16 May in Sydney
Australian Association of Family Therapy National Conference
Join the Australian Association of Family Therapy for two inspirational days for the 2025 Healing and Reconnecting Annual Conference.
When: Thursday 3rd July and Friday 4th July, 2025
Where: Pullman Melbourne Albert Park
65 Queens Road, Albert Park VIC 3004
Cost: Tickets range from $240 - $950
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.
WD Standing Committee
The Workforce Development Standing Committee provides advice to SASVic and supports the ongoing implementation and development of education and training projects, including but not limited to the workforce development program.
Kayti Murphy
catherine.murphy@sasvic.org.au
Resources and links
SASVic and member details
SASVic organisational structure with staff names and positions
Specialist Sexual Assault Sector Map
Here is a map that helps people find their local specialist sexual assault service.
National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence
SASVic is a member of the National Association of Services Against Sexual Assault (NASASV).
Acronyms
Here is a list of acronyms. Please let us know if you've discovered any more we should add.
FVSV Knowledge Hub
The Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge on is a one-stop shop for practitioners, program managers, policymakers and funders to access the latest research, resources, case studies, webinars and training opportunities.