April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in Australia and globally, but for our ~12,300 Petitioners every month of the year is SAAM. SAAM is about raising awareness, and opening up conversations that reduce stigma, and create positive change. And that's what our petition is all about. Change that results in accessible and fully government funded services and supports that meet the individual choices and needs of survivors, their families and communities. Services and supports that are designed by experts, namely, those people, families and communities who need them, not predetermined by government tenders, and limited service contracts and funding arrangements.

April is a busy month for us.

• Continue communicating with the office of The Hon Martin Foley to confirm a date and time for our meeting with him, after his office finally acknowledged our request last week.
• Communicating with the Office of the Victorian Ombudsman, which yesterday confirmed receipt of our complaint about the Victorian Government's failure to implement a key Royal Commission recommendation it had agreed in principle to implement.  Their office advised us that they will be in touch with us soon.
• Continue communicating with the Principals of Beaumaris Primary School, Beaumaris North Primary School, and Haileybury College, and the CEOs of St Kilda Football Club and Freemasons Victoria, about our LOUD fences day on Sunday 1 May. To agree the best places for our ribbons to be tied, that ensures they will remain visible, and not be removed. Both Beaumaris Primary schools have already acknowledged our emails, and we will follow up with the other institutions that have yet to do so.
• Have a follow-up meeting with the CEO of Sexual Assault Services Victoria, the peak non-for-profit body in Victoria that advocates for sexual assault survivors and victims.

All of the above is made possible by you, our fellow Petitioners, because it's your support that's continuing to open doors, and start conversations with the right people. Thank you! 

Please keep sharing our petition, it's working!