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- media@commsroom.co
Understanding adult sexual assault matters: Insights from research and practice, authored by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, supports the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to strengthen justice responses to sexual assault and improve victims’ and survivors’ experiences.
Sexual assault is underreported and often misunderstood in our community. This can be due to false assumptions and stereotypes about sexual assault that pervade Australian society.
“We all have a role to play in ending family, domestic and sexual violence. We must continue to work together toward that end,” says Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP.
“Victims and survivors deserve to feel empowered to seek justice, and seeking justice should not add to the trauma they have experienced.”
“This resource will improve police, legal and judicial responses when engaging with victims and survivors of sexual assault, offenders and communities.”
The 2021 National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey found that almost 1 in 5 Australians believe women are most likely to be sexually assaulted by a stranger, despite evidence that 85 per cent of women who have experienced sexual assault were assaulted by a male they knew, most commonly an intimate partner.
Read more: Ensuring privacy and safety for domestic violence survivors
Misunderstandings about sexual assault can be influenced by false assumptions and stereotypes about consent, complainants and the nature of offending. Research shows that these can operate as myths and misconceptions, which can filter into the justice system and prevent victims and survivors of sexual assault from seeking justice.
“To stop violence against women and children in one generation, we need to ensure that frontline workers, health professionals and the justice sector are supported with the skills and resources to prevent and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence,” adds Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP.
“This resource delivers on key outcomes under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 and will assist the family, domestic and sexual violence justice sector to ensure responses to these forms of violence are trauma-informed and appropriate for all people.”
The resource presents evidence-based insights into the realities of sexual assault and suggests approaches to counteract the inappropriate influence that false assumptions and stereotypes can have in the justice system.
This resource is a key component of a $12.6 million investment in the October 2022-23 Budget to deliver family, domestic and sexual violence education for frontline workers, health professionals and the justice sector.
The Australian Government also initiated an Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry to improve justice responses to sexual violence which is due to report in January 2024.
Adrianne Saplagio is a Content Producer at Comms Room, where she combines her passion for storytelling with her expertise in multimedia content creation. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for engaging audiences, Adrianne has been instrumental in crafting compelling narratives that resonate across various digital platforms.
