What's new in the field of adult sexual assault
This page aims to keep you up-to-date with "what's new" at the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault and in the field of adult sexual assault.
- What's culture got to do with it? The impact of ethnic identity on the effects of unwanted sexual experience during childhood
3 July 2009
The aim of this research is to identify the impact of ethnic identity on the effects of childhood sexual abuse among women who have been subjected to sexual abuse in childhood. This research will form part of a PhD for Tanja Stojadinovic from the University of South Australia. If you would like more information or would like to find out how to participate in the project, email Tanja Stojadinovic. - Sentencing trends
2 July 2009
The Sentencing Advisory Council has released sixteen new Sentencing Snapshots in its series examining offences heard in the higher courts of Victoria. The latest Snapshots analyse sentencing trends, including a number of sex offences. Sentencing trends snapshots include those for rape, sexual penetration of a child between 10 and 16, sexual penetration of a child aged under 10, indecent act with a child aged under 16 and indecent assault in the higher courts. - National Indigenous Intelligence Task Force
1 July 2009
The Australian Crime Commission's National Indigenous Intelligence Task Force invites submissions for a national study regarding the provision of specialised therapeutic counselling services to children and adolescents who demonstrate sexualised behaviours or sexual offending behaviours. Submission guidelines can be accessed via the ACC website. Closing date for submissions: Friday 31 July 2009. - Anglican Church report to strengthen child protection
25 June 2009
The Anglican Church has released the report of a major research project commissioned to help strengthen its child protection protocols. The report examines 191 alleged cases of child sexual abuse reported between 1990 and 2008 from 17 dioceses around Australia. Download the Study of Reported Child Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Church. - Community survey on Your views on sexual violence
23 June 2009
The Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre (BRISSC) is conducting the Your views on Sexual Violence community survey. The information provided from the survey will inform BRISSC in developing community initiatives that aim to address violence before it occurs. The survey also aims to raise awareness of sexual violence within the community. The survey is open until 15 July 2009. Following this, a report will be available on the website and in hard copy by contacting BRISSC. The survey and more information is available from BRISSC. - Better justice for victims of sexual assault and violence
22 June 2009
Legislation, designed to reduce matters in the ACT Supreme Court and to improve the way the criminal justice system responds to sexual assault crimes, has been announced. Attorney General, Simon Corbell, has stated that these reforms are designed to minimise the potential re-victimisation that can be experienced by victims of sexual and violent offences when they interact with the criminal justice system. Read the media statement about the legislation on justice for sexual assault victims. - People Trafficking
17 June 2009
President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Catherine Branson QC and Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, praised the federal government's changes to the Support for Victims of People Trafficking Program and the People Trafficking Visa Framework today as humanitarian and compassionate improvements which will help people recover from violations of their basic human rights. Read the media release on changes to protection visas and access to victim support from the Australian Human Rights Commission. - European Observatory on Violence Against Women website launched
16 June 2009
The European Policy Action Centre on Violence against Women has launched a new website providing resources on violence against women, news, data and reports on the current status of violence against women in thirty European countries. The European Observatory on Violence Against Women was launched on International Women's Day and provides a central access point for information and news from Europe. - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2009
15 June 2009
To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse has published the paper, The disappearing age: a discussion paper on a strategy to address violence against older women. The paper includes some information on sexual assault of older women. - Purple Armband Games
12 June 2009 2009
Purple armbands originated in the Football Fans Against Sexual Assault (FFASA) campaign, set up in response to the spate of sexual assault allegations that surfaced against elite footballers. Purple Armband Games aim to empower the silent majority of men and women to speak out against violent and abusive behaviours towards women. Read more about Purple Armband Games. - Call for action to prevent and stop sexual exploitation of children and adolescents
11 June 2009
The World Congress III on Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (Brazil, November 2008) has resulted in a Declaration and Plan of Action setting the agenda for international efforts to prevent and stop the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. To learn more about ways to prevent, prohibit and stop sexual exploitation, and to provide the necessary support to children who have fallen victim to abuse read the Rio de Janeiro Declaration and Call for Action to Prevent and Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents. - ACSSA publications release
11 June 2009
Aware: ACSSA Newsletter No. 21 2009 - articles include:
Virtual violence; Virtual harm and attachment; Book review; News in brief; Literature highlights; and more ... - Keeping Safe program
10 June 2009
Helping improve young people's relationship skills: The Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek and the South Australian Minister for Education, Jane Lomax-Smith have launched the evaluation of the Keeping Safe program. Through its new Respectful Relationship Program, the Australian Government is investing $9.1 million over five years to test and evaluate best practice respectful relationships education programs with school-aged young people across the country. "To reduce violence against women and children, it is important young people are taught the skills to build and maintain respectful relationships for life," Ms Plibersek said. - Book launch invitation
10 June 2009
Cheating on the sisterhood is a new book by Lauren Rosewarne, a lecturer in Public Policy in the School of Social and Political Science, at the University of Melbourne. Her book will be launched on 12 August 2009, 6.30pm. More information is available from the Department of Political Science, Centre for Public Policy. - Victorian State Plan to Prevent Violence against Women
9 June 2009
The Victorian State Government is broadening its work to date on family violence and sexual assault reform to include preventing violence before it starts. The plan builds on the Government's investment in effective, integrated police, service and criminal justice responses to family violence and sexual assault. This fact sheet, State plan to prevent violence against women is now available. - Strategy to stamp out the scourge of domestic violence
4 June 2009
The Queensland Government will establish an expert Death Review Panel in an effort to identify gaps in services for victims of domestic and family violence and prevent further deaths in the future. In a joint statement, The Honourable Anna Bligh, Premier and Minister for the Arts, and The Honourable Karen Struthers, Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women, outlined their plan to help prevent violence in family relationships. You can read their media statement in MySunshineCoast. - Managing the risk of sexual assault and other forms of child maltreatment in organisations
2 June 2009
Daryl Higgins' presentation to the LegalWise Seminar in Sydney on managing the risk of sexual assualt, is now available online. - Media coverage about mandatory reporting in the Northern Territory of sexual activity for children and adolescence
1 June 2009
A number of articles have been published concerning mandatory reporting of sexual activity in NT. Some of those of interest include: Indigenous doctors join chorus of alarm over NT mandatory reporting laws; NT Govt under pressure over "insane" laws harming teenagers; and Underage sex laws could be 'tweaked'. - Breach of commercial television code of practice
21 May 2009
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that General Television Corporation Pty Ltd, the licensee of GTV (Nine), breached the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice 2004 by broadcasting a program which was likely to provoke severe ridicule, as well as failure to provide a substantive written response to the complainants. Read the article from the Australian Communications and Media Authority. - Government launches national standards for the primary prevention of sexual assault through education
20 May 2009
The National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV) has taken an important step towards reducing violence against women in Australia with the release of the publication, Framing best practice: National standards for the primary prevention of sexual assault through education. The Framework outlines six National Standards to assist in developing, implementing and evaluating educational programs which focus on primary prevention of sexual assault in Australia. You can read the media release from Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for the Status of Women and download the report. - NT mandatory reporting of sexual activity for 16 year olds and younger
19 May 2009 2009
Recent media coverage about mandatory reporting in the Northern Territory of sexual activity for children and adolescence under the age of 16 years has raised concerns about the negative impact on the health and well being of young people. The following are a few articles of interest: the Northern Territory News 14/04, ABC News 20/04 and ABC News 21/04. - Conceptual Framework for Family and Domestic Violence, 2009
18 May 2009
The term 'Family and Domestic Violence' (FDV) covers a wide range of abusive behaviours committed within intimate relationships such as those involving family members, children, partners, ex-partners, or caregivers. It can include many types of behaviour or threats, including: physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse and intimidation, economic and social deprivation, damage of personal property and abuse of power. This new publication from the Australian Bureau of Statistics contains a conceptual framework for data relating to family and domestic violence. The framework illustrates relationships between the key elements of family and domestic violence, such as: context, risk, incident, responses, impacts/outcomes, and programs, research and evaluation. You can access this report from the ABS. - One-stop-shop for victims of sexual assault
15 May 2009
A digital one-stop-shop to help for victims of sexual assault has been launched in NSW. This new website, Help for victims of sexual assault, brings together support services. It aims to make the justice system more accessible for victims, and encourages them to come forward. - Code of silence
12 May 2009
For much of the past decade rugby league in Australia has been dogged by a series of startling allegations relating to alcohol, women and sex. After every incident the National Rugby League has told the public it's moving to clean up the game. For the first time women talk frankly to an ABC reporter about footballers, sex and a football culture that turns a blind eye to anti-social behaviour that raises both moral and sometimes legal issues. You can access more information about this ABC Four Corners program. - Strengthening sexual assault victims' right to privacy
11 May 2009
The focus of this online guide from the USA focuses on sexual assault victims' right to privacy. It reinforces the importance of keeping information confidential and highlights the power of employing consistent practices to create a culture of respect for victims' privacy. This guide contains general recommendations, addresses common challenges, provides core concepts, and offers practical tips to assist advocates in their efforts to maintain victim confidentiality. - Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
8 May 2009
The quarterly newsletter from Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) is available online. You can access the latest bulletin, as well as all previous ones. - Telling stories: Child abuse, neglect and adult sexual assault
7 May 2009
Telling stories: Child abuse, neglect and adult sexual assault, a recent seminar by Dr Antonia Quadara and Dr Leah Bromfield, Australian Institute of Family Studies. View the presentation. Listen to the audio. - Men's role in preventing men's violence against women
6 May 2009
Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault and the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Inaugural Joint Forum was held in November 2008. The papers from this seminar are now available online: Michael Flood, Mayet Costello and Bob Pease - National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children
5 May 2009
The Federal Government has released Time for Action: the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. Download the Plan. You can also read the joint media release by The Hon Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister and The Hon Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women. - NSW schools to get 'sexting' fact sheets
4 May 2009
The New South Wales Government has launched a campaign to warn parents and children about the dangers of sending suggestive or sexual images on mobile phones. This news story is available from ABC News - Women's Information Referral Exchange
1 May 2009
WIRE, the Women's Information Referral Exchange, has developed a new fact sheet designed to inform and support the victims of stalking. They have a number of other fact sheets, and readers might find the one on sexual assault particularly relevant. - 2008 NSW Recorded Crime Statistics
29 April 2009
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has released its annual report 2008 NSW Recorded Crime Statistics. Included in this publication are statistics on sexual assault and sexual offences. - Counselling records of sexual assault victims
21 April 2009
In some states in Australia the private counselling records of sexual assault victims can be subpoenaed and presented as evidence in court cases. While it's possible to argue against this, many people do not know their rights or do not have adequate legal representation. Listen to this audio program from ABC LifeMatters. - National plan to reduce violence against women
Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women, media release
17 April 2009
In May 2008, the Government established an 11 member National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. The Council's task was to provide the Government with advice on the implementation of an evidence-based National plan to reduce violence against women. The National Plan will support the community to: better support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; ensure the legal system is effective; and reduce violence for future generations. Read the media release. You can also find out more about the National Council from their website. - Promising Practice Programs
16 April 2009
Two new Promising Practice Programs have been added to the database: Living Well and SAPPSS - Sexual Assault Prevention Program for Secondary Schools . You can also browse the database of programs. - Adults Surviving Child Abuse
14 April 2009 2009
Earlier this year, Adults Surviving Child Abuse launched a national campaign to bring attention to its cause. You can view their media campaign which focuses on the issue of sexual abuse. - Responding to sexual violence against women: A national research project
30 March 2009
This research will investigate the relationship between training and experience on professional understandings of sexual violence against women, with the key aim being to contribute to the continued assessment and improvement of services available to victims/survivors of sexual assault in Australia. Participants who are aged 18 years or over and have experience working in the field of sexual violence (research or practice) are being recruited to be involved in this project. Participation will involve completing an online survey, which focuses on your own training, experience and understandings of sexual assault. The survey should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. If you would like to participate in this study please fill in the survey. If you have any questions or concerns, email Rachel O'Byrne. - Tasmanian sex offender program
18 March 2009
The Tasmanian Minister for Corrections and Consumer Protection, Lisa Singh, has announced that the Department of Justice had started implementing the recommendations from the review of the Tasmanian Sex Offender Program. View the media release. - People trafficking guidelines for NGOs launched
16 March 2009
The Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, has launched the Guidelines for NGOs working with trafficked people, along with the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Catherine Branson QC and the Director of the NGO Anti-Slavery Project, Jennifer Burn. The Guidelines for NGOs working with trafficked people can be accessed at the Attorney-General's Department website. - Giving voice to victim/survivor's knowledge of sexual offending
19 February 2009
The Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault (ACSSA) is seeking participants for a research project. We would like to speak with adults who have experienced sexual assault/s in adulthood (i.e. the assault/s happened when aged 18 or over), and who are able to discuss the assault/s with an experienced researcher. Information for participants is available about this research project. - National council to reduce violence against women and their children
10 February 2009
The Hon Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, at a recent speech in which she discussed the establishment of a National Framework for Protecting Australia's children, stated that keeping women and children safe is a universal obligation and responsibility, and that to be safe and protected is the most basic of human rights. - ACSSA publications release
3 February 2009
Aware: ACSSA Newsletter No. 20 2009 - articles include:
Subpoenaing counselling notes; Service profile; News in brief; Literature highlights; and more ... - One of the lucky ones
20 January 2009
On February 3rd @ 10.55pm, SBS will screen a documentary by sexual assault survivor Wendy Chandler who tells the story of her attack, the demons she fought afterwards and how she was able to slowly reclaim her life years later.
For further information email shauna.moore@sbs.com.au
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