Last year the Australian Federal Government acknowledged the voices of victims and survivors needed to be at the centre of its' responses to child sexual abuse. This year the Australian Child Maltreatment Study confirmed over 1 in 4 Australians aged 16–65 have experienced sexual abuse as a child. A huge portion of Australian society, that translates to child sexual abuse continuing to impact millions of Australian survivors, family members and community members. Impacting all of us.
We are calling on the Victorian Government to acknowledge the voices of Victorian victims and survivors must be at the centre of its' responses to child sexual abuse. By the creation of a Victorian Advsiory Group to ensure government actions on child sexual abuse, are human-centric and needs based. We also call for a Victorian Advisory Group's scope to include advising the Victorian Government on appropriate use of language and context, in media releases and public statements regarding child sexual abuse.
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Albanese Government puts victim survivors at centre of response to child sex abuse, The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, 15 September 2022, Media Release.
"A new advisory group will meet in Brisbane today to ensure the voices of victims and survivors are at the centre of the Government's response to child sexual abuse.
The 20-member National Strategy Advisory Group of experts, including people with lived and living experience, service providers, peak bodies and academics, are meeting over the coming two days to help shape action on child sexual abuse by providing advice on the design, implementation, and evaluation of measures under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030.
The national strategy is Australia's first strategic framework to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in all settings, and was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The members represent the experience of every national strategy priority group: victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and their advocates, children and young people and their support networks, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with a disability, LGBTQIA+, and people living in regional and remote communities.
By working with this group, we are ensuring the national strategy delivers support for the people who need it most and our children and young people are better protected.
The Gillard Government established the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which revealed the extent of these crimes in our community.
Australia's willingness to finally reckon with the horrific toll of child sexual abuse and neglect was only possible because of the tireless advocacy of victims, survivors and their families.
Child abuse thrives in the shadows, but by listening to the stories of others we can shine a light, and act to keep children safe."
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When the Victorian Government asks survivors, families and communities to share stories and statements on the prevalence and impact of child sexual abuse, it must include seats at the decision making table on what government actions will meet their needs.