Mallee Sexual Assault Unit and SECASA have been chosen as the sites for Victoria's Justice Navigator pilot. Justice Navigators will support survivors of sexual violence to navigate the complex support, compensation, justice and recovery options available to them. The highly specialised service will be offered at no cost to survivors.
The State Government funded pilot is a partnership between Family Safety Victoria and SASVic, Victoria's peak body for specialist sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services.
SASVic CEO, Kathleen Maltzahn says, 'We're incredibly pleased to see Justice Navigators finally become a reality. This pilot is not about whether they will work or whether they are necessary, because they are. Too often victim survivors report that their experience of the legal system is traumatising and confusing or that they can't find the right services to help them recover. The burden can no longer be on survivors to navigate our complex and disempowering systems to seek justice and to recover."
Victoria's Justice Navigators are modelled on longstanding independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) roles in England and Wales, and have operated in the ACT for over a year. Research shows that ISVAs in England and Wales halved the number of survivors who dropped out of legal procedures.
There are 19 specialist sexual assault services across Victoria - some are independent and some exist as part of hospitals. The pilot sites have been chosen to test the roles in different settings, including regional and metro Victoria.
Justice Navigators will:
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support survivors to understand and exercise their rights
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assist survivors to navigate all the support, compensation, justice and recovery options available to them, including both criminal and civil procedures
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be free and available to survivors for as long as support is needed.
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The new roles will work alongside Counsellor Advocates, who provide specialist, feminist-informed counselling, advocacy and support for all survivors of sexual violence, whether adults or children.
Sexual violence is widespread in society but it is one of the most under-reported crimes. The Victorian Law Reform Commission found that this can be because people fear not being believed, community attitudes toward sexual violence and the poor response from the justice system.
It will take systemic change and the whole community to end sexual violence. This is why SASVic is hosting the inaugural International Freedom From Sexual Violence Summit from November 4 - 6, bringing together survivor advocates, practitioners, researchers and other experts committed to creating a world free from sexual violence.
About the services
The South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SECASA) is a specialist service providing free counselling, advocacy and support. SECASA offers a 24/7 sexual assault crisis response, alongside therapeutic interventions for children, young people, and their families who have experienced sexual assault, family violence, or the impacts of harmful sexual behaviour. They support individuals who live, work, or attend school within the south-east metropolitan Melbourne catchment, across the relevant local government areas and shires. SECASA have 10 offices from St Kilda to the Mornington Peninsula, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Berwick. SECASA also offers Primary Prevention Programs to community groups and schools.
About us:
Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) is the peak body for specialist sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria. We work to promote rights, recovery and respect for victim survivors and other people impacted by sexual violence and harm. We seek to achieve this by working collectively to change the attitudes, systems and structures that enable sexual violence to occur.
Contact details:
Contact Brett de Hoedt of Hootville Communications on 0414 713 802 or [email protected] for media inquiries. SASVic, Mallee Sexual Assault Unit and SECASA are available to comment.