2023-09-20
Today, the ACT Government has welcomed Canberra’s first dedicated legal service for victim-survivors of sexual violence as a significant step towards improving their access to justice.
Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury praised Women’s Legal Centre ACT and Victims Support ACT for their success in developing a proposal that has been selected to participate in the national pilot of a specialised and trauma-informed legal service for sexual assault victim-survivors.
“This is a significant step in ensuring adequate support is provided to victim-survivors of sexual violence,” said Attorney-General Rattenbury.
“This service will assist in removing the barriers to engaging with the criminal-justice system facing victim-survivors.
“The new pilot service will provide victim-survivors of sexual violence with trauma informed services, including legal advice and representation to support their engagement in the criminal justice system and related legal issues.
“The new Sexual Assault Legal Service will provide dedicated wrap-around service to women, children, transgender people and people who identify as non-binary who are victims of sexual assault.
“As part of this wrap-around service, the program will also provide financial assistance, counselling and specialist support.
“Support will be provided to victim-survivors at all stages, including general advice and information, engagement with police, and the prosecution, support and advice during the criminal proceedings and post-sentence, referrals, and wraparound client support coordination via Victims Support ACT,” said Attorney-General Rattenbury.
The ACT Government is committed to preventing and responding to sexual violence in the ACT and progressive sexual assault law reform.
As part of its response to the 24 recommendations from Listen. Take Action to Prevent, Believe and Heal report, since 2021-22, the ACT Government has taken critical steps and committed more than $15 million over 5 years to improve sexual assault prevention and responses in the Territory.