Sexual violence carries deep and lasting costs, not only for victim-survivors, but for families, communities and the systems that respond to harm.
A new report from The University of Western Australia Public Policy Institute and Allambee that reveals the scale of those costs and makes the case for timely, coordinated investment to prevent and reduce the long-term impacts will be launched this week.
The Lifetime Price of Harm: Economic Costs of Sexual Violence and the Case for Timely Intervention in Australia quantifies the lifetime economic and social burden of sexual violence across health, justice, welfare and productivity systems.
The analysis shows that delayed intervention compounds trauma and inflates public costs, with lost productivity, healthcare and complex disadvantage representing major avoidable economic losses.
Ben Perks, Senior Policy and Engagement Officer at the UWA Public Policy Institute and lead author of the report, said the evidence shows that timely, sustained support is not only more humane but more cost-effective.
"Each missed opportunity for timely recovery compounds harm across lifetimes and service systems," Mr Perks said.
"Investment in prevention and coordinated intervention pays dividends in wellbeing, participation and reduced fiscal pressure."
The launch event will feature an expert panel, who will explore how policy, funding and service design can better respond to the lifetime nature of harm and improve the recovery of those impacted by sexual violence.
"This event brings together research, policy and practice voices to consider what it would mean to invest early, not just react late," Mr Perks said.
"The lifetime price of harm is a cost we can reduce, if governments begin to routinely acknowledge it in policy and budgeting decisions."
The report will be launched at a public event hosted by the UWA Public Policy Institute at the City of Perth Library on Thursday 30 October from 6pm to 7.30pm. It is a free event but registrations are required here.
