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Home » Queensland’s Framework to address Sexual Violence

Queensland’s Framework to address Sexual Violence

Prevent. Support. Believe. Queensland’s Framework to address Sexual Violence

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Queensland Sexual Assault Network

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11 hours ago

At the Family Safety Summit in Darwin, our CEO Angela Lynch had the opportunity to interview Dr Rachael Burgin from Swinburne University. The discussion explored the findings of Dr. Burgin’s report, Beyond Reasonable Doubt? Understanding Police Attrition of Reported Sexual Offences in the ACT. The research highlights how police investigations were often inadequate, most reports were not investigated at all and decision-making was frequently influenced by non-evidence based rape myths and outdated stereotypes about how victims "should" behave. While focused on the ACT, the report's findings and recommendations hold important lessons for policing jurisdictions across all of Australia. Thankyou Dr Burgin for this discussion and your work!

1 day ago

"What that young person needs isn't a police interview and it's not a courtroom - it's a system that cares about her wellbeing, her education, and will listen to her." – Dani Villafana, gender justice advocate. QSAN supports this campaign calling for nationally consistent standards or guidance to ensure every school student is supported after experiencing sexual violence. QSAN member services have seen the devastating impact on victim-survivors when appropriate responses and support is not provided, including leaving their school and not pursuing their education. This has long-term impacts on victim-survivors emotionally and financially throughout their life. We also know what is possible when schools get it right. Our member services have seen the profound difference that safe, compassionate and supportive school responses can make in helping young people feel believed, supported and empowered to continue their education. No young person should have to choose between their safety and their education. We need consistent, survivor-centred approaches that prioritise the safety, wellbeing and educational rights of every student, regardless of which school they attend. Together, we can make this change. The ‘Fair Agenda’ petition was published this week calling on our governments to introduce national standards so every student, in every school get s a supported response to peer-on-peer sexual violence. To sign the petition, visit: https://www.fairagenda.org/schools To read the full article, visit: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9387842/schools-need-standards-to-support-students-after-harm/ John-Paul Langbroek Queensland Department of Education #SexualViolence #ChildSexualAbuse #PreventSexualViolence

1 day ago

Concerning findings from an Australian Institute of Criminology report highlight significant barriers facing victim-survivors who report sexual violence to police in Queensland. The report examines why approximately two-thirds of sexual assault complaints made to Queensland police were withdrawn, not substantiated or remained unsolved. The findings raise serious questions about how our systems respond to victim-survivors and support them throughout the criminal justice process. QSAN CEO Angela Lynch recently spoke with the Guardian about the report, highlighting the broader systemic issues and barriers facing victim-survivors. “These issues unfortunately are consistent with frontline sexual violence worker and victim-survivor experience,” Ms Lynch said. “Delays in the system are a huge impediment to victim-survivors being able to continue to engage and these, along with other issues, can leave [them] with an impression their case is not a priority.” QSAN supports a specialist response to sexual violence, including by police. The UK's Operation Soteria - a landmark police and justice reform focused on investigating rape and serious sexual offences - offers important opportunities for learning. Its data-driven, trauma-informed approach focuses on improving investigations, strengthening procedural justice for victim-survivors and supporting police officer wellbeing. QSAN calls for urgent consideration of the lessons from Operation Soteria and other reform programs such as in the ACT, and how these approaches could be adapted to the Queensland context. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gcGFWyuK #SupportSurvivors #SexualViolence #OperationSoteria

1 day ago

QSAN staff joined member services in attending the Sexual Assault Services Victoria Freedom from Sexual Violence Conference last week in Melbourne. Professor Fiona Vera-Gray, the opening keynote, spoke about women's actions being constrained by sexual violence and the threat of sexual violence. She highlighted that by centring freedom, which is consistent with a human rights framework in our advocacy work, we can change business as usual. It was great to be learning, invigorated and challenged in solidarity with sector colleagues. 📷 Pictured: Staff from QSAN, Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, Tablelands Sexual Assault Service, BRISSC - Brisbane R&I Survivors Support Centre, DVConnect and Immigrant Women's Support Service. #EndSexualViolence #SexualViolence

2 days ago

QSAN strongly supports these statements by Gillian O'Brien, Chair of our management committee and Director of our member service WWILD SVP-Assn. inc. wherein she urges the government to carefully consider any changes to the victims assist scheme and prioritise victim survivor welfare and outcomes. The scheme provides ex gratia payments to victims of crime in Queensland and makes a huge difference to victim survivors and sometimes it is the only official acknowledgement of harm that many receive. We acknowledge there is a responsibility to 'get the balance right' with any payment of government money. As Ms O'Brien advised, specialist sexual violence services already have strict protocols in place when supporting victim-survivors to access the scheme, to ensure they meet the evidentiary requirements required by the scheme. We welcome a discussion on this topic, but would consider it a retrogade step and an impossible barrier for the majority of sexual violence victim survivors to require police reporting as a prerequisite. We look forward to engaging with Minister Laura Gerber MP to discuss these issues further. Learn more: https://ab.co/4zHKmy6 #EndSexualViolence #SexualViolence #SupportSurvivors

2 days ago

𝟭𝟬 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆. 🎗️ Today is representative of future where those impacted by sexual assault are supported at all levels of public and private engagement, where organisations are equipped to respond to disclosures in a more trauma informed way, and children are safer. It represents singular commitment of all of us, that we want to prevent others from suffering similar harms, help those who have to heal, and provide a little bit of hope into some of the darkest of times. The theme for National Survivors Day is: Every Ribbon. Every Conversation. #EveryVoice. Every ribbon is a visual symbol – this week you may see multicolour ribbons worn or tied up, representing the ongoing need to prevent and respond to sexual violence and institutional abuse. Every conversation is a reminder to start hard conversations about difficult topics so that we might further normalise talking about the impacts of sexual assault. Every Voice is about lending our voices to a growing chorus of people determined to see a better, brighter, kinder future. To learn more and get involved, head to National Survivors' Day or www.nationalsurvivorsday.org.au. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the Sexual Assault Helpline (1800 010 120), 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), or visit qsan.org.au/services. #HonouringEverySurvivor #NSD2026 #NationalSurvivorsDay

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