Sexual Assault Services Victoria

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and marks the beginning of UN Women's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Here are some facts about tech-facilitated sexual violence and how we can prevent it. #NoExcuse #16Days #16daysofactivismagainstgenderbasedviolence #16daysofactivism

Tonight, over 100 landmarks will be lit up blue across Australia to mark the UN World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence.   Child sexual abuse is pervasive in our society. More than 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys living in Australia have experienced child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is preventable and where we can respond well, children can and do recover, heal and thrive.   In Victoria, buildings from Horsham Town Hall across to West Gippsland Arts Centre will light up. We need the whole community's support to make a difference. You can use the hashtags #EndChildSexualAbuseDay to share pictures from where you are and send a message that child sexual abuse is unacceptable.   Today's theme is, ‘Strengthening the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse through evidence-based policy making’. We need to see more action and investment into recovery and prevention of child sexual abuse.   You can read an interview from advocate Karen Walker, who has led the project, here: https://lnkd.in/gatVkSm3 #18novworldday #PreventionHealingJustice

Today, we celebrated SASVic's 5th birthday and reflected on our achievements as a peak body. A big thank you to all of our members and partners who have come along this journey with us, and to the survivors who inspire and inform our work.

This National Survivors' Day, we recognise and commemorate the courage and journeys of those impacted by sexual assault and institutional abuse. We acknowledge the profound harm caused to survivors and the community. Our CEO Kathleen Maltzahn says "Survivors of institutional child sexual abuse spoke out at a time of widespread silence about child sexual abuse, which led a Prime Minister to establish one of the most important Royal Commissions this country has seen, which in turn has changed this country. We salute you." #EveryVoice

Our AGM is live! Join here: https://lnkd.in/gh5ceSZF

Our AGM is happening TODAY! RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gH5cJmtD

Recent research by Jesuit Social Services found teenage boys who most strongly endorsed rigid masculine norms were more likely to have harmed others and been harmed themselves. Here are some of the sexual violence-related findings from the research. Read the report yourself here: https://lnkd.in/gqf7rVPK

Our CEO, Kathleen Maltzahn, joined Macca and Kenny on JOY Media's Saturday Magazine show on the weekend to talk about YourSay, our initiative inviting victim survivors of sexual violence to submit their ideas on what the Victorian Government can do to address sexual violence. The ideas will be submitted to a panel, who will chose an idea that SASVic will champion in the lead up to the 2026 state election. Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gBEmNUkm Learn more about YourSay here: https://lnkd.in/g2CW9KAE

Another reminder that our AGM is happening online next Tuesday! We have four speakers joining us: Katrina Bevelander from Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA), Margaretha Josephsohn from Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA), and Dalan Ruru and Christine Walker from Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC). We hope to see you there. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gH5cJmtD

Sexual violence costs the Australian economy almost $2 billion every year. That's according to new research from the University of Western Australia, commissioned by Allambee .   Sexual violence costs the economy by disrupting survivors' employment, education, health and wellbeing. It also leads to increased spending on the health, justice and social care systems.   But we can reduce this impact by investing properly in specialist sexual assault services.   The research found Australia's specialist sexual assault services need an additional $80 million in funding per year to meet demand and provide an adequate response.   As Allambee CEO Nicole Lambert writes in the report's foreword, "while services continue to buckle under the weight of demand, delays in access to critical supports create significant, avoidable long-term harm for victim survivors".   Read the report on Allambee's website https://lnkd.in/gcYXq-gJ