Promising Practice Programs

The Right to Party Safely

AgencyCASA House (Centre Against Sexual Assault)
Carlton, Vic
Website http://www.thewomens.org.au/SexualAssault
ContactJuliet Watson, Project worker
Ph: (03) 9347 3066, email: casa@rwh.org.au
Start date1999
End date2002
Program type Community awareness/education
Service provider training
Training for community groups
Advocacy programs
Therapeutic responses to victim/survivors
Geographical areaState/Territory wide
Target groupWomen
Service providers
Police
Description There were two phases to the project. Phase One of the Right to Party Safely Project researched the incidence and prevalence of sexual assaults occurring in and around licensed venues. The research was quantitative and qualitative and included focus groups, surveys and internal data collection.

The objectives of the project included:
  1. Documenting young women's experiences of violence within the context of licensed premises;
  2. Developing a data collection system;
  3. Researching and documenting strategies to enhance the safety of young women;
  4. Engaging the co-operation of key stakeholders;
  5. Consulting with young women and developing a reference group.
Phase Two focused on the recommendations resulting from Phase One. This included:
  1. Community education that targeted both young women and young men;
  2. Developing information packages and training workshops;
  3. Law reform;
  4. Prevention of drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault.
Strategies included: the development of stickers and postcards that were displayed in licensed premises; development of training workshops for professionals; piloting and establishment of a school based program; ongoing data collection.
Promising practice examples Takes account of contemporary research and practice developments in the field of sexual assault.
Contributes to improving systems' responses to sexual assault, or is directed at preventing sexual assault.
Demonstrates a sensitivity towards the barriers faced by victim/survivors in disclosing and reporting sexual assault.
Has a clearly defined conceptual framework.
Includes processes of accountability and evaluation.
Demonstrates a capacity for replication (i.e. other services/organisations could adapt/re-model the program for their use).
Philosophical framework The project was in accordance with the CASA House philosophy which states that sexual assault is a violation of human rights and is a consequence and a reinforcer of the power disparity existing between men and women. Sexual assault occurs along a continuum of violence and the impact on both the individual victim/survivor and society is multi-faceted and complex.
Publications Watson, Juliet (2002), The Right to Party Safely: A Report on Young Women, Sexual Violence and Licensed Premises, Melbourne, Victoria, Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA).

Watson, Juliet & Lawson, Sheri (2002), Responding to Drug and Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault. Conference paper presented at the Australian Drug Foundation Conference in Sydney, 2002.

Responding to Drug and Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault. Half day workshop incorporated into the CASA House training calendar.
Evaluation Internal

Back to Promising Practice Programs

Top