The purpose of the Strategy is to improve outcomes for victim-survivors of sexual violence, focusing on primary prevention, support for recovery and holding perpetrators to account.
The Strategy will take a whole-of-government approach to preventing and addressing the impact of sexual violence in the community and will consider the full continuum of sexual violence, including sexual harassment, abuse and threats. It will also consider the needs of all victims – including those who are male, female and gender diverse.
The Strategy is being developed in conjunction with two other projects which will examine sexual offending laws and criminal justice processes in WA.
Community consultation and engagement
A state-wide consultation process will ensure the Strategy is informed by the voices and experiences of victim-survivors, the WA community and those working in the sector. The consultation will build on the existing evidence base and previous consultations in this area.
In November 2021, the Department of Justice, Department of Communities and Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing hosted a consultative forum to engage with organisations that work to address sexual violence in WA. The purpose of the forum was to discuss consultation and community engagement for developing the strategy.
A public consultation process is being developed based on the findings of the consultative forum. An announcement will be made when the consultation process opens.
Reference Group
A Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Strategy Reference Group has been established to guide the consultation process and the development of the Strategy.
The group is made up of people from both government and non-government organisations with expertise in the prevention of and response to sexual violence for diverse cohorts, alongside individuals with a lived experience of sexual violence. Nicole Lambert, Chief Executive Officer at Allambee Counselling and Vice-Chairperson of the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence, has been appointed Independent Chair of the group.
Contact
You can contact the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime via email at sexualviolencestrategy@justice.wa.gov.au or by phone on 61 88 9264 9877.
Support
Reading about sexual violence may provoke feelings of distress.
In an emergency, or if you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call the police now on 000.
Support is available.
- 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
- Sexual Assault Resource Centre Crisis Counselling: 61 8 6458 1828 (8.30 am to 11.00 pm, every day)
- Sexual Assault Resource Centre Emergency Line: 1800 199 888 (24 hours, for sexual assault within the past 2 weeks)
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
