Our Projects

Victorian Government Consultation 2023

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We recently wrapped up a project with the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department, undertaking a scoping study on alternative reporting mechanisms for victims and survivors of sexual assault to better meet the needs of victims and survivors and reduce the risk of re-traumatisation.

The scoping study considered existing and upcoming state and territory programs and, where appropriate, aligned with them. It also drew on best practice to embed trauma-informed and culturally safe mechanisms in evaluating the merits of a national approach to alternative reporting.

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We also worked with the Victorian Government, who contracted our team to provide expert advice on the design considerations for an online reporting pathway for sexual violence, as reccomended by the Victorian Law Reform Commission.

The Victorian Government committed investment for the design of an online reporting pathway as part of the 2022-23 State budget.

Our team worked closely with the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS), Victoria Police and Sexual Assault Services Victoria, and led consultation with victim-survivors and other key stakeholders to inform recommendations for design.

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Members of our research team collaborated with JobWatch, an employment rights legal centre, on a report concerning workplace sexual harassment in Australia. The report, titled “Overwhelmed and Frustrated: Experiences of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination; The Barriers Faced with the Legal System”, can be accessed here: https://jobwatch.org.au/what-we-do/law-reform/

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Our project team completed a two year project from 2020-2022, funded by the Australian Institute of Criminology where we examined the use and potentials of anonymous sexual assault reporting options for criminal justice and survivor outcomes.

We engaged with key organizations such as Victoria Police, New South Wales Police, the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault, Rape and Domestic Violence Services New South Wales, and the Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre, to gather insights and identify ways to enhance these mechanisms.

We also consulted with victim-survivors of sexual assault to better understand how alternative reporting mechanisms could address their justice and therapeutic needs.

Overall, we found that alternative reporting options serve as an “in-between” pathway for survivors who may be hesitant to engage with police. These options allow survivors to tell their story in their own words, providing autonomy and control. They also assist police with intelligence gathering in unique ways. However, we also found that completing an alternative reporting form can be traumatic without therapeutic support.