- October is Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM), an annual event to raise awareness about the impacts of sexual violence, the support available and further educate Queensland communities
- Everyone deserves to be safe from violence and we all have a role to play in ending sexual violence.
Queenslanders are being encouraged to take a stand against sexual violence in our communities throughout October as part of Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D'Ath on Wednesday acknowledged the important work of many in the community to increase awareness of sexual violence and the support organisations provide to victim-survivors, while attending a community event with the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence Inc.
Throughout October, organisations will host events and activities to raise awareness about the impacts of sexual violence and the support available to victims, while also promoting what Queenslanders' can do to help end sexual abuse.
In Queensland, more than 85 per cent of sexual assault victims were women and more than half of victims were under the age of 18 at the time of the assault, according to 2022 data, compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Sexual violence can have long-lasting impacts on the health and wellbeing of victim-survivors, and trauma can have a ripple effect on their families, supporters and the community.
The Palaszczuk Government has invested more than $1.5 billion to combat domestic, family and sexual violence and improve women's safety since 2015.
Large-scale reform is currently being implemented through the Government's $225 million response to the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce Report Two recommendations, which places victim-survivors at the centre of the response to sexual violence.
The Palaszczuk Government is also putting victims front and centre and has recently appointed an interim Victims' Commissioner to listen and support those impacted by crime to ensure their voices are heard.
Additionally, the government is upgrading courts in 81 locations aimed at lessening the trauma for victims when giving evidence in court.
Additional planning is underway to establish a state-wide model for a victim advocacy service aimed at reducing barriers to reporting sexual assault and empowering victim survivors.
