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,
Today, the new Victorian Ombudsman, Marlo Baragwanath, released her first public report, focused on the Department of Education's handling of two cases of child sexual abuse. The Vic Ombudsman is Victoria's 'watchdog for the people'. It's job is to 'ensure fairness for Victorians in their dealings with the public sector and improve public administration.' It's significant, then, that she has chosen, in her first report to focus on responses to CSA. The report makes sobering reading (link below), outlining a litany of failures by the Department to respond properly, but will be no surprise to many of you.
In response, we're continuing to advocate, including in media today, for victims and their families to get independent support from our sector (with funding to allow that) and funding for us to create a 'surge force' so that SASVic member services can support each other when schools need a response to assaults that impact the whole school community.
Next month we have two great training opportunities: 'Untouched', which gives practical tools for supporting VS to reclaim sex and intimacy, and our six-day Foundations in SV short course with Dr Fiona Vera Gray (details below).
Meanwhile, we're waiting for the Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry on justice responses to SV to be released - it could be anyday.
Finally, we're looking forward to seeing many of you next Wednesday at Right to Recovery.
In solidarity,
Kathleen
CEO
SASVic
Contents
Featured
Member information session: SASVic's 2025 Campaign and response to the ALRC's inquiry
In case you missed it last update, we're running a campaign webinar on the 25th and would love to see you there.
Join Jacqui, Holly and Amy from SASVic at our February information session for an overview of what's happening in sexual violence policy at a federal level and how we can push for change in Victoria ahead of the 2025 state budget in May.
The Australian Law Reform Commission's inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence report has been handed to Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and is expected to be tabled any day now. This information session is a chance for us to go through what this report recommends and what SASVic's response is.
We'll also give an overview of our 2025 campaign, calling on the Victorian Government to show us that it has heard the public outcry for action and is aware of the reform needed on sexual violence. We're calling on the Victorian Government to prevent funding in the sector from lapsing and invest an additional $12.8 million into rights, recovery and respect for survivors of sexual violence.
When: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
When: 2pm
Where: Online
To attend the information session, please register below to receive an outlook invitation with the Teams link.
Victorian Ombudsman report highlights Department of Education failures in responding to child sexual abuse
Today the new Victorian Ombudsman released tabled a report about a complaint received regarding how the Department of Education and a Victorian government primary school responded to the allegations of sexual abuse of two children by a teacher.
The report identifies a series of failures by the department that allowed the perpetrator to keep teaching years after the abuse was first reported by a staff member, and details how it failed to adequately support the victim survivors and their families after the abuse was disclosed.
In our response to the report, we emphasised that almost daily, Victorian specialist sexual assault services are contacted by schools needing help responding to sexual assault by teachers or students. But that we are not funded at the levels needed to do this.
Last year, we wrote to the Department of Education about developing a comprehensive and proactive response package for child sexual abuse impacting school communities, and we have asked for $600,000 over 2 years in the upcoming state budget to do just this.
Kathleen has spoken to media about the report. Follow us on social media (links below, after 'Other News') where we'll share the articles.
Advocacy & evidence
Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to amy.webster@sasvic.org.au
New mandatory code to hold unis and TAFEs to account
Higher education providers will have to do more to address campus sexual violence or face financial penalties under a new mandatory code.
Part of the Action Plan Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education, the code will set rules for prevention and response, including:
- mandatory prevention training for students, leadership and staff
- mandatory responding to disclosures training for leadership and staff
- requiring people applying for jobs to disclose whether they've been accused of or investigated for gender-based violence in their previous job
- banning the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) unless the victim survivor requests one
- requiring unis to investigate sexual misconduct at residential colleges
- implementing the recommendations of the new Student Ombudsman, which began operating on 1 February.
In our submission to the action plan, SASVic recommended funding specialist sexual assault services to place counsellor advocates in universities and TAFEs, and improving referral pathways between higher education providers and SSAS. The proposed code, which is before federal parliament, says prevention and responding to disclosures training has to be developed through collaboration and engagement with experts, but doesn't set any rules for who delivers it. It says providers have to give information about the support that's available, but this can be internal or external support.
UK introduces world-first legislation to tackle AI CSAM
As "nudeify" apps are increasingly used to create child sex abuse material, the UK is set to introduce world-first legislation to tackle this abhorrent use of AI. Under the new laws, it will be illegal for anyone to possess, create or distribute AI tools designed to generate CSAM, with a penalty of up to five years in prison. It will also be illegal to possess manuals that teach people how to use AI to sexually abuse children.
UK-based charity, the Internet Watch Foundation, found reports of AI generated CSAM rose 380% in 2024. Many of it is so realistic that they're unable to tell whether it's AI-generated or real life abuse.
These new laws differ from Australia's approach. In December, new industry standards developed by the eSafety Commissioner took effect, requiring tech companies to take "meaningful steps" to prevent their services and platforms from being used to generate, distribute or solicit CSAM.
Sexism linked to social ills: study
Sexism is linked to some surprising social ills that affect everyone, according to a new 62 country psychological study.
The researchers measured sexist beliefs of almost 30,000 participants on a scale of 1-5 and mapped average national scores to a range of outcomes.
They found that countries with higher levels of sexism had lower GDP, greater levels of antidemocratic practices, and shorter healthy lifespans for both men and women.
The researchers explain that, while they can't directly prove that sexism causes these issues, their findings are in line with theoretical predictions and smaller experiments. For example, restricting women's education and employment opportunities reduces economic productivity, and certain masculine norms can encourage conflict and risk-taking behaviour.
Australian men had a lower average hostile sexism score (1.67) than the global average (2.2).
Workforce development
Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to emily.roberts@sasvic.org.au
Professional development opportunity from Women With Disabilities Victoria
Women With Disabilities Victoria are offering a series of two workshops for social and community service professionals to learn about how gender and disability inequality drives violence, and how you can prevent it.
Part 1: Wednesday 19 March, 10am - 3pm
Part 2: Thursday 20 March, 10am - 3pm
Location: Melbourne CBD
Cost: $350 for employed professionals
Join our workforce development committee!
The Workforce Development Committee is looking for 2-3 new committee members to advise SASVic, influence the education development agenda, and support the ongoing implementation of training projects. The key item on the agenda will be working with SASVic on the development of the Sexual Violence and Harmful Sexual Behaviours Capability Framework.
In particular, SASVic is looking for the EOIs from:
- one service leader sitting on the Service Leader Standing Committee
- one early career practitioner (1-2 years post-graduation / entering the sector).
If you are not either of these but are keen to work with SASVic on the workforce project development, please also complete the EOI form.
There are only three meetings scheduled in 2025 as listed below:
- 1 May 2025 (Thursday), 1pm-3pm
- 14 August 2025 (Thursday), 1pm-3pm
- 20 November 2025 (Thursday, 1pm-3pm
Prevention
Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to jaeme.opie@sasvic.org.au
Article: even with compulsory lessons, some teens are confused about how consent works
Some teens aren't coming away from RRE with an adequate understanding of how to use consent in real life relationships, according to new research with teens.
Through focus groups and interviews with Australian 11-17-year-olds, researchers found some teens view consent as a means to avoid getting in trouble rather than a way of making sure their partner is happy and comfortable. Others wanted to be taught more practical communication skills, including examples of how to ask for and say no to sex. And some felt that "negative" consent lessons were contributing to their fear of having sex.
Respect Victoria – 2025 Three Year Report to Parliament Survey
Every three years, Respect Victoria reports to the Victorian Parliament on the progress, trends, outcomes and collective impact of work across Victoria to prevent violence against women and family and sexual violence.
Respect Victoria is calling for any organisations working in violence prevention to complete their 2025 Three Year Report to Parliament Survey. The purpose of this survey is to collect data on program activity, reach, impact, and barriers from organisations and practitioners involved in the prevention o fgender-based violence across Victoria. It’s made up of 28 questions and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
The survey link will be open until Friday 28 February 2025.
New song encourages kids and parents to have conversations about child sexual abuse
The National Office for Child Safety's 'One Talk at a Time' campaign encourages adults to learn about child sexual abuse and have ongoing conversations with children, young people and other adults. As part of the campaign, they've partnered with children's music group, Teeny Tiny Stevies, to write a song teaching children about their bodies' warning signs, not keeping secrets and talking to trusted adults.
Legal policy
Please send any questions you have about our work in this area to jacqueline.bell@sasvic.org.au
Article: what is sexsomnia and how is it used as a defence court?
A Sydney man with "sexsomnia" was recently found not guilty of rape. The rare sleep disorder can cause a person to engage in sexual behaviour while unconscious, including sexual touching, penetration or masturbation. Though a 2020 study found only 116 clinical cases had been recorded in the medical literature, it's been used as a defence in a several recent sexual assault trials in Australia.
In this article for The Conversation, University of Sydney lecturer Christopher Rudge explains that, in court, sexsomnia is "a recent version of an older legal defence known as automatism."
Broken Justice: series of articles by the Guardian
In the lead up to the release of the long-awaited ALRC report into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence, the Guardian's 'Broken Justice' series asks why the system retraumatises victim survivors and delivers poor outcomes. Incorporating the perspectives of experts and victim survivors, the series of eight articles (so far) explores the structure and ideology of our legal system, how rape myths and lack of trauma knowledge contribute to low conviction rates, experiences with restorative justice, forensic medical exams, and more.
Other news
Nominate that extraordinary woman you know to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women
Nominations for the Victorian Honour Roll of Women are open until Sunday 16 March 2025!
The Victorian Honour Roll of Women recognises women who show remarkable leadership and excellence in their:
- field of expertise, interest, or endeavour
- commitment to the community.
Nominees have to be women (including transwomen, sistergirls and gender diverse people) and to have been born in or spent a considerable part of their life in Victoria.
Follow SASVic for more updates.
Workforce training
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
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.