“We support women in a holistic way that recognises that you can’t respond to sexual assault without dealing with a whole host of other issues, such as family violence, housing, women’s health needs including female genital mutilation and employment.”
Access to Sexual Assault Services for Refugee Background Women
A report by Centre of Advancing Women
centreofadvancingwomen.com.au
In October 2023, Sexual Assault Services Victoria contracted Centre of Advancing Women (COAW) to undertake a project to explore how mainstream sexual assault services can increase accessibility for survivors from predominantly East and North African and Middle Eastern backgrounds.
“The women hope for a culturally sensitive approach which is more than listening and believing but understanding the complex experiences and the potential backlash they might face from family and community. They need providers that can navigate cultural differences, respectfully, and offer space where they will not be judged or misunderstood.”
The report explores the challenges that the women COAW supports face, including cultural taboos and shame, as well as systemic failures and a lack of cultural responsiveness.
The report details lessons that mainstream services can learn from COAW as a grassroots organisation:
Integrate cultural competency training.
Adopt and implement intersection approaches.
Adopt faith sensitive approaches.
Communicate in culturally responsive & inclusive ways.
Be flexible & responsive to changing & diverse needs.
Build a sense of community for healing.
Develop grassroots partnerships.
Incorporate comprehensive support.
Involve community in development.
Contextualise family & sexual violence as harmful.
“Both mainstream sexual assault services and COAW play vital roles in addressing and preventing sexual violence. While mainstream services often offer comprehensive and professionalised support, COAW brings a community-driven and culturally competent approach that can be especially impactful in addressing the diverse needs of victim survivors. A collabortive approach can contribute to a more holistic and inclusive response to sexual violence.”
What does an equal partnership approach between COAW and mainstream services look like?
Recognise expertise of grassroots organisations.
Provide trauma informed services that are culturally tailored.
Engage with community advocates.
Develop collaborative decision making processes.
Establish common goals and objectives.
Invest in capacity building initiatives.
Advocate collaboratively for systemic & policy changes.
Engage in cultural competency training delivered by COAW.
Establish open communication channels.
Share resources equitably.
Be flexible to changing circumstances.
Advocate for funding models that support locally driven initiatives.
Develop partnership agreements.
Integrate COAW perspectives.
Sexual violence is being forced, pressured or tricked into doing sexual things when you don’t want to. It is often a crime and can take many forms, including child sexual abuse, image-based sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual assault. It can affect people of all genders throughout their lives and can be perpetrated by strangers or people who are known to the survivor.
It can be difficult to speak about sexual violence. Specialist sexual assault services support adults and children who have experienced sexual violence, whether recently or a long time ago. Harmful sexual behaviour services provide specialist support to children and families. For more information about specialist sexual assault services in Victoria and where to find them, visit peak.sasvic.org.au/servicemap
Getting support
Sexual Assault Services Victoria contracted Centre of Advancing Women to undertake this important project.
