Survivors of sexual violence have been given a direct voice in shaping policy and advocacy priorities through a groundbreaking online initiative by Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) in partnership with the newDemocracy Foundation.
- The project, called YourSay, invites anyone in Victoria to visit the YourSay website and submit ideas on how to prevent, respond to, or end sexual violence. You don't need to be a policy expert to make a submission.
- Ideas are then open to the public for discussion. Visitors can support ideas or suggest variations.
- A panel of victim survivors - who have nominated themselves for random selection - will deliberate over three sessions to select one idea to present to SASVic.
- SASVic commits in advance to champion the chosen idea in the lead-up to the November 2026 Victorian State Election. This commitment, ahead of the panel's recommendation, will ensure survivor voices are central to the organisation's advocacy agenda.
"Victim survivor perspectives are key to effective action on sexual violence," said SASVic CEO Kathleen Maltzahn. "Sexual violence takes away power and control. SASVic wants victim survivors to influence the systems and policies that affect them. YourSay is one way to ensure that their voices are heard, respected and acted upon."
Panel member Cathy Oddie is a victim survivor of sexual violence and a Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) Lived Experience Consultant.
"No one knows the challenges faced by victim survivors of sexual violence better than those who have experienced these insidious crimes perpetrated against them. Therefore, centring lived experience expertise and appointing victim survivors as representatives and decision makers on the YourSay Panel, is not only respectful, but absolutely critical."
The site: https://yoursay.sasvic.org.au/
The groundbreaking initiative builds on newDemocracy's experience running citizens' juries and assemblies across Australia, designed to improve democratic engagement and ensure community voices are genuinely reflected in public decision-making. While the project is a pilot, both SASVic and newDemocracy believe it will foster meaningful engagement and innovative solutions from the Victorian community.
Nominations for the victim survivor panel remain open via the website until 28 November 2025, with deliberations scheduled for February and March 2026.
Based on the 2021–22 Personal Safety Survey, over 1 in 5 (22% or 2.2 million) women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.
The Australian Child Maltreatment study found the national prevalence of child sexual abuse in Australia is 28.5% (more than 1 in 4).
About us:
About Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic)
SASVic is the peak body for specialist sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria. It works to promote the rights and recovery of victim survivors and to prevent sexual violence through advocacy, education, and system reform.
About the newDemocracy Foundation
The newDemocracy Foundation is a not-for-profit research organisation that specialises in advising governments and others on how to make trusted policy decisions with citizens assemblies and citizens juries.
https://www.newdemocracy.com.au/
The Sexual Assault Crisis Line, 1800 806 292, is available in Victoria 24/7 for people who have experienced a recent sexual assault or need after-hours help. To find your local specialist sexual assault services, please visit peak.sasvic.org.au/servicemap
