Promising Practice Programs
Sexual Violence Services Tampon Card
| Agency | Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service |
| Website | http://www.wch.sa.gov.au/services/az/other/yarrowplace/files/ |
| Contact | Katrina Dee, Crisis Response Worker Co-ordinator Ph: (08) 8226 8777, email: deek@mail.wch.sa.gov.au |
| Start date | June 2003 |
| End date | Ongoing |
| Program type | Community awareness/education Therapeutic responses to victim/survivors |
| Geographical area | Australia wide |
| Target group | Women |
| Description | The objective of this project was to provide women throughout Australia with information regarding sexual violence
and contact numbers for support services, in a way that was discreet and private. De Jour is an Australian, female owned company producing sanitary products for women. De Jour provides health information to women through their website The Womans Room and also via a health information card distributed in their tampon packets. A worker at Yarrow Place approached De Jour and suggested that they consider sexual violence as a topic for the health information card. Katrina Allen, owner of the company, was very enthusiastic about the idea and agreed to produce the card and distribute it in tampon packets throughout Australia. The message to appear on the health information card was written by sexual assault workers at Yarrow Place, and the card included the contact number for at least one sexual assault service in each state. Support for the card from sexual assault services in each state was gained through the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV). The cards were distributed in De Jour tampon packets throughout Australia in February 2004, starting to appear on supermarket shelves in May 2004. The message on the card: Sexual Violence impacts on many women's lives. Seeking help can be difficult. Women are concerned that they won't be believed or will be blamed. Breaking the silence around rape and sexual assault is a courageous step. No woman asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted. For confidential assistance or support please contact the sexual assault service in your state. |
| Promising practice examples |
The initiative demonstrated sensitivity towards the barriers faced by women who have experienced sexual violence in
disclosing and reporting sexual assault. It is difficult for women to access information on support services for sexual
violence in a way that is safe, that is it does not identify them. Often information about sexual assault services is
available through pamphlets and posters in public areas such as GP waiting rooms, where to pick up a pamphlet risks
the woman being identified as someone who has experienced sexual violence. It is also likely that woman will only seek
to access information or support services regarding sexual violence when they or someone they care about has experienced
an incident. The Sexual Assault Services Tampon Card overcomes these issues by being distributed with a non-threatening
product that many women use. It was predicted that most women would open the box of tampons and read the card in a private
place, and the card could be returned to the box and accessed again at a later time if required. The aim of this method of
distribution was that the card would reach women who had experienced sexual violence as well as women who hadn't, in the
belief that sexual violence impacts on all women in some way, whether through having experienced sexual violence or knowing
someone who has, or living in fear of sexual violence. Research has indicated that most women who have experienced sexual violence will tell a friend before anyone else. Research looking at why women don't report incidences of sexual violence to the police and are reluctant to seek support from services indicates that women fear they won't be believed or will be blamed for what has happened, and are unsure their disclosure will remain confidential. This initiative addresses these issues by sending the message 'believe - don't blame' to women who may hear a disclosure of sexual violence; the card encourages women to seek support by acknowledging the barriers to seeking assistance and the message 'No woman asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted' shifts responsibility from the victim, and includes the message 'For confidential assistance and support...'. A decision was made to include at least one contact number from each state and these included toll free numbers. The card was too small to include the phone number of every sexual assault service so the services listed agreed to refer callers to other more local services as appropriate. The initiative also demonstrates a capacity for replication, for example including similar information with other products targeted at women or a similar card for Domestic Violence Services or other issues where it is important that the information be delivered in a private manner. |
| Philosophical framework | This initiative was based on the frameworks of a strong commitment to social justice (access and equity); feminist understandings; victims rights approach; and social view of health. Specifically, the project was underpinned by the belief that women have the right to accurate and accessible information that will assist them to access services for sexual violence. Sexual violence is a crime and a serious health issue for women, and prevention of sexual violence is a community responsibility hence the involvement of a business such as De Jour which has demonstrated a commitment to women's health issues. |
| Research informing program |
Research indicates that most women who have experienced sexual violence will tell a friend
before anyone else. Women who have not experienced sexual violence therefore need to be informed about
sexual violence and available services. Research looking at why women don't report incidences of sexual violence to the police and are reluctant to seek support from services shows that women fear they won't be believed or will be blamed for what has happened, and are unsure that their disclosure will remain confidential. The message on the information cards emphasises that women are not to blame if they experience sexual assault and that confidential support is available. |
| Publications | Sexual Violence Services Tampon Card. Katrina Dee, in STATEing Women's Health:
Newsletter of the Women of South Australia, Autumn 2004, p13-14. Women's Health Statewide,
Government of South Australia & National Women's Health Project. News Watch: Newsletter of the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide no.15 March 2004, p6. Available from www.wch.sa.gov.au. |
| Evaluation | No formal evaluation. Informal feedback on the Sexual Assault Services Tampon Card has been received from sexual assault services throughout Australia, which has been positive and very supportive of the initiative. Feedback has also been received from a number of different university based counselling services in support of the project. |