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Artworks created by victim-survivors of sexual violence across Queensland will be showcased at Parliament House on 28 October with a collective call for change: No More Silence, Prevent Sexual Violence.
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Police-recorded sexual assault victims in Queensland have more than doubled over the past decade, rising from 4,199 in 2015 to 9,173 in 2025.
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Sexual violence remains significantly underreported, with ABS data showing 92% of women who experienced sexual assault by a male did not report their most recent incident to police.
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Victim-survivors are using art to share their experiences, challenge stigma and call for action to believe and support victim-survivors.
Artworks created by victim-survivors of sexual violence across Queensland will take centre stage at Parliament House this week to commemorate Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM).
Created through workshops hosted by members of the Queensland Sexual Assault Network (QSAN), the artworks bring together individual expressions of creativity, connection and strength with a collective call for change: No more silence, prevent sexual violence.
Rani, a victim-survivor who participated in the art workshops, said it was meaningful to be part of something that gives survivors a voice.
“I found it empowering to create alongside other victim-survivors and use art to share a message that matters so much to me,” she said
“I want people to understand that our voices have power. Survivors deserve to be heard, believed and listened to without judgement. No one should feel silenced or afraid to speak up.”
The artworks will be showcased at a special event hosted by QSAN at Queensland Parliament House on 28 October, marking the culmination of Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM).
The event will bring together Members of Parliament, specialist sexual violence support and prevention services and other stakeholders to hear from victim-survivors, view the artworks and discuss the action needed to prevent sexual violence.
The campaign comes amid concerning statistics highlighting the prevalence of sexual violence in Queensland.
Over the last decade, police-recorded sexual assault in Queensland has more than doubled, rising from 4,199 victims in 2015 to 9,173 in 2025.
Almost one in four Queensland women – an estimated 479,900 women – have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Despite its prevalence, sexual violence remains significantly underreported. ABS data shows that 92% of women who experience sexual assault by a male do not report their most recent incident to police.
QSAN CEO Angela Lynch said breaking the silence surrounding sexual violence requires addressing the attitudes and systems that discourage victim-survivors from coming forward.
“People can face enormous barriers to speaking about or reporting sexual violence. Fear of not being believed, shame and stigma, community attitudes that blame or question victim-survivors, and justice systems that can be difficult and traumatic to navigate can all contribute to that silence,” Ms Lynch said.
“Sexual violence can be an uncomfortable topic, but avoiding these conversations only allows the silence and stigma to continue.
“Breaking that silence is a responsibility we all share. It means being willing to talk openly about sexual violence and consent, believing and supporting victim-survivors, and challenging the attitudes and behaviours that allow sexual violence to occur.
“We need communities where victim-survivors can speak about their experiences without shame, where they are met with belief and support, and where our laws and justice systems protect them from further harm.
“Preventing sexual violence requires action from all of us.”
About us:
The Queensland Sexual Assault Network (QSAN) are the leading, independent, funded Sexual Violence Peak Body for specialist sexual violence support and prevention services in Queensland. QSAN’s membership are located across Queensland including specialist services in regional and rural locations. QSAN are committed to working alongside and centering the voices of survivors of sexual violence, and engaging collaboratively with specialist services, organisations, and communities for the prevention of sexual violence.
Contact details:
Angela Lynch | Chief Executive Officer
Queensland Sexual Assault Network
+61 7 3543 6061 | [email protected]
