Kirsty Windeyer has been appointed Coordinator-General for the Prevention of Sexual Violence as part of the ACT Government’s response to the Listen. Take Action to prevent, believe and heal report published last year.

That report by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Steering Committee revealed that sexual violence was unacceptably prevalent in the ACT community, but that the systems responses available to victim survivors were inadequate.

• System is failing victims of sexual violence, report finds (December 2021)

The Coordinator-General will coordinate the government’s response to the report, working across government and consulting with stakeholders to inform priorities in the phased implementation of the report’s recommendations, a government spokesperson said.

Ms Windeyer is currently Coordinator-General for Family Safety; the two roles will be combined. She was previously CEO of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory; Special Counsel/Executive Director of the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce; and the inaugural Principal Solicitor of the ACT Women’s Legal Centre.

The report made 24 recommendations, of which the government has agreed to 13, in principle to nine, and noted one. These recommendations will be implemented over an extended period. The government will also reform laws.

“Change isn’t easy, but in this instance, it is critical and necessary,” Yvette Berry, ACT Minister for Women and for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, said today, tabling both the Report and the government response.

“The government response is only the first step in creating long-lasting reforms to improve how we as a community prevent and respond to sexual violence.”

Other recommendations include a review of all agencies and statutory bodies that provide services related to sexual violence; improving how response services work together; more help for victim survivors (including children and young people) to navigate the system; and mentoring and training Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in the sexual violence services.

The ACT Government has already acted on some of the recommendations, Ms Berry noted.

Labor MLA Dr Marisa Paterson’s bill in May established an affirmative and communicative model of consent.

• ACT passes ‘clearer and stronger’ sexual consent laws (May 2022)

Similarly, the ACT became the first Australian jurisdiction to specifically criminalise ‘stealthing’ (the non-consensual removal of a condom during sex), due to a bill by Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee.

• ACT first in country to make ‘stealthing’ illegal (October 2021)

Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury is amending the Crimes Act 1900 to change “sexual relationship with child or young person under special care” to “persistent sexual abuse of a child or young person under special care”.

“The change in the wording of the offence seeks to reflect the true nature and severity of the crime more accurately,” Ms Berry said.

Similarly, Mr Rattenbury said, laws will be amended to ensure that evidence of previous family violence is admissible in sexual assault cases; that the courtroom is closed when a victim gives evidence about sexual assault; and that self-induced intoxication cannot be considered in determining whether the accused knew or was reckless about consent.

“These are only some of the very important recommendations that will allow us to transform the court process to be more empowering and validating,” he said. “It boils down to the core of what we need to tell victim-survivors in our words and in our actions:we believe you.”

In March, the government began reviewing sexual assault matters that were reported to police and not progressed to charge. It was, Ms Berry said, “another step towards better understanding and improving the system responses for victim survivors”.

She said implementing the recommendations would carry a financial impact for the ACT. It will announce funding for new initiatives later this year, and consider further work and reforms in the 2022–23 Budget.

The Government will commit:

• $1.4 million over four years to establish a structured Victim Survivor Consultation Program to ensure victim survivors’ voices and experiences remain central to the reforms
• $933,000 over four years to design and implement a 10-year strategy to change attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate sexual violence
• $1.5 million over four years to appoint Independent Sexual Violence Advisers in the ACT, who will provide a victim survivor-centred, trauma informed response, tailored to the individual’s needs
• $4.4 million over four years to design and pilot a Multidisciplinary Centre in the ACT, a single access point for victim survivors, to reduce trauma and stress and provide a holistic service response
• $585,000 over two years to undertake a Specialist Services Review to understand where operational changes are needed

Ms Berry thanked the victim-survivors of sexual violence for their bravery in sharing their experiences of seeking assistance and justice.

“Their insights are a powerful reflection of just how difficult it is for victim survivors to navigate a complex and fragmented system and find a pathway to safety and recovery that meets their needs. These individuals have been critical to shaping this reform process.”

Sexual assault is a confronting issue that can be triggering for many people. If you, or someone you know, needs support, please contact:

NATIONAL:

Service: Full Stop Australia (formally Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia)

• Who can access: anyone impacted by sexual, domestic or family violence
• When: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Phone: 1800 385 578
• Website: www.fullstop.org.au

Service: 1800Respect

• Who can access: anyone impacted by sexual, domestic or family violence
• When: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Phone: 1800 737 732
• Website: 1800respect.org.au

Service: Lifeline

• Who can access: anyone feeling suicidal, overwhelmed or having difficulty coping or staying safe
• When: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Phone: 13 11 14
• Website: lifeline.org.au

LOCAL:

Service: Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC)

• Who can access: all people impacted by sexual violence
• Phone: (02) 6247 2525
• Available: 7am – 11pm, 7 days a week.
• Website: crcc.org.au

Service: Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS)

• Who can access: all people impacted by domestic and family violence
• Phone: 6280 0900
• Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Website: dvcs.org.au

Service: Victim Support ACT (VSACT):

• Who can access: anyone who is a victim of a crime committed in the ACT is eligible for support or information from Victim Support ACT
• Phone: 1800 8222 72 or (02) 6205 2022
• Available: Business hours, Monday – Friday
• Website: victimsupport.act.gov.au