Join SASVic’s call to end sexual violence in Victoria
RIGHTS. RECOVERY. RESPECT.
SASVic is calling on the Victorian Government to properly fund support for survivors of sexual violence.
We know that sexual violence is harmful, pervasive and preventable, and that its impacts are felt across the whole community. With adequate funding, we can ensure all those affected can get the support they need to recover.
This is the government's chance to show it has heard the public outcry for action and is aware of the reform needed on sexual violence.
Justice Navigators campaign win!
In May 2024, the Victorian Government announced that it would fund a Justice Navigators pilot. In 2025, that promise becomes a reality. Justice Navigators will be embedded in the specialist sexual assault sector and will support survivors to understand and exercise their rights, and help them navigate the complex range of support, compensation, recovery and justice options available to them, including by attending court and hearings. They will provide ongoing support to survivors that isn’t tied to any one legal pathway or outcome. Thank you so much to everyone who supported our campaign and helped to make this a reality!
In 2025, we’re calling on the Victorian Government to invest in rights, recovery and respect for survivors of sexual violence.
Rights
Everyone has a right to safety from sexual violence. When sexual violence occurs, we need a justice system that enables survivors to access support, consider and act on their reporting options, secure a justice outcome and recover.
To uphold survivors’ rights, the Victorian Government must:
commit to expanding the Justice Navigator pilot across Victoria and sustaining it long-term
improve survivors’ experiences of the justice system by investing in SASVic training for lawyers, judges and magistrates on sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviour
improve survivors' experiences with Victoria Police by funding SASVic to add specialist sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviour training to the Victoria Police Academy curriculum
ensure survivors can make informed decisions about compensation options and access trauma-informed financial advice through an end-to-end compensation support program, designed by SASVic
build capacity of men’s behaviour change programs to identify and respond to sexual violence through a partnership between SASVic and No to Violence.
Recovery
Sexual violence can undermine survivors’ self-perceptions, relationships and their sense of safety, autonomy and belonging in the community. It can impair their capacity to work, study and live life to its full potential (REACH KTE Report). A new funding model for the specialist sexual assault sector (the sector) would allow for greater innovation and flexibility in the supports we can offer, fast-tracking healing and recovery through effective early intervention.
To give survivors the best chance to recover from sexual violence, the Victorian Government must:
fund the specialist sexual assault sector to avoid the 2025 funding cliff and convert this to core funding to that it’s not at risk of ending in the future
fund specialist sexual assault services at a rate equivalent to family violence therapeutic counselling
work with the sector to design a new funding model that would allow survivors to access a range of long-term, flexible supports that incorporates our new recovery research
expand the number of therapeutic and peer support groups offered by the sector, for different survivor cohorts, as recommended by our new recovery research
increase accessibility and provide a range of interventions and modalities for diverse communities, with a focus on women with disability, through a rights-based access strategy co-designed by survivors and the sector
fund SASVic to set up an online 'Recovery hub' for survivors of all forms of sexual violence including survivors of recent and historic child sexual abuse, young people engaging in harmful sexual behaviour, secondary victims and the wider community
fund SASVic to work with our members and partners in the alcohol and other drug, mental health and criminal justice sectors, to develop and deliver more tailored and integrated programs to support survivors' recovery.
Respect
Sexual violence thrives in silence. The sector gives survivors a voice and place to tell their story, make sense of their experience and be believed. But our specialist workforce is struggling to meet demand. SASVic is calling on the Victorian Government for a substantial investment in frontline sexual assault services and ongoing funding for SASVic to ensure we can continue to be a strong, state-wide voice for our sector and all those impacted by sexual violence.
To build a sustainable and thriving specialist sexual assault sector, the Victorian Government must:
increase SASVic’s core funding to boost capacity and allow the peak body to continue the vital work already being done in Victoria for all people impacted by sexual violence
grow the evidence base for prevention and adult perpetrator interventions by funding ongoing roles for research, evaluation and knowledge translation and exchange at SASVic
fund SASVic to evaluate the sector’s data and data system needs and work with the government to modernise the sector’s data system
fund the sector to develop an emergency response to child sexual abuse in schools and small communities, in collaboration with the Department of Education
fund SASVic to deliver formalised training to new workers entering the sector underpinned by the latest research, including topics such as the REACH recovery model, harmful sexual behaviour and child sexual abuse responses
continue the important Lead & Adapt Program (delivered in partnership by Leadership Vic and Safe + Equal) to support the growth of the sector
give survivors the opportunity to contribute to change and recognise their unique experience through the design and implementation of a Survivors Advocacy and Recovery Network.
Join our campaign to end sexual violence in Victoria
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If you have experienced a recent sexual assault or need after-hours support, please call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292.
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
