Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Responsible government
- Australian Capital Territory
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Respond to sexual violence and sexual harassment
- 13 Prevent sexual violence and sexual harassment before it happens through national and targeted initiatives that promote informed consent, bodily autonomy and respectful relationships.
- 14 Deliver client-centred, trauma-informed, specialised and consistent support to victims and survivors of sexual violence.
- 15 Strengthen the capacity of all sectors to address sexual harassment to ensure women are safe at work, while studying, in public and online.
What are we doing?
The ACT Government is committed to taking action to prevent and respond to sexual assault in the Territory. In April 2021, we announced a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Steering Committee that will listen to local experts, survivors and their advocates to set key priorities for future government action.
The Steering Committee has three working groups focused on prevention, response, and law reform, as well as a Workplace Reference Group which provides into to each working group on safety in the workplace. These groups are made up of representatives from non-government organisations, research bodies, our university sector and government representatives.
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultation Committee helps ensure that the experiences, views and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are captured and therefore front and centre in the advice and recommendations of the Steering Committee.
What is next?
In late 2021, the Steering Committee will deliver its final report to the ACT Government outlining key recommendations to inform our whole-of-Territory response to sexual assault in our community. Through this we will be able to coordinate efforts across the community to develop effective, systemic, evidence-based responses to prevention, response and law reform relating to sexual assault in the ACT.
What difference will we make?
Sexual assault and harassment continue to affect members of our community. Women make up 86.6% of those who experience sexual assault in the ACT. A gendered approach is needed to break down the drivers for sexual assault and truly work to prevent this violence. This also requires a whole of government response that extends into the community.
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program aims to bring together a wide range of stakeholders, to better understand what is working well, where there are gaps, and where we need to invest and build new programs of work. The governance structure ensures that there is a targeted focus on three key areas, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander considerations embedded across all of them.
The objective of the program is to coordinate efforts across our community, the service sector, unions and stakeholders to develop an effective, systemic, evidence-based response to sexual assault in the ACT.