About
Sexual Assault Services Victoria

About us

Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) the peak body for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria. We work to promote rights, recovery and respect for victim survivors and other people impacted by sexual violence and harm. We seek to achieve this by working collectively to change attitudes, systems and structures that enable sexual violence to occur.

Our declaration

SASVic’s members bring over 30 years of feminist practice and specialist expertise to the task of reforming system responses to sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviours.

We know that sexual violence is harmful, pervasive and preventable.

Together, we aim to help shape society to ensure all those affected are able to get the support they need where and when they need it.

Our strategic directions

1. Ensure people affected by sexual violence have access to high-quality, timely therapeutic support

  • Promote and contribute to the evidence base for recovery from sexual violence and what it encompasses.
  • Develop models to improve engagement with sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services by people who experience the greatest barriers to recovery.
  • Develop sector led trauma-informed strategies to address and manage waitlists so people affected by sexual violence have access to specialist therapeutic support options where and when they need it.
  • Advocate to government for a new funding model for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services.
  • Work with the sector to develop and implement models so that policy, practice and advocacy is informed by diverse lived experience.

2. Build community capacity to prevent, recognise and respond to sexual violence

  • Raise the profile of SASVic and its members as the 'go-to' experts in preventing, recognising and responding to sexual violence.
  • Strengthen links and service pathways with key sectors including mental health, family violence, children and young people, alcohol and other drugs, and justice.
  • Strengthen knowledge and practice in regard to diverse forms/drivers/dynamics of sexual violence and harm, with a focus on intersectional impacts including for Aboriginal people, people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people and people with disability.
  • Lead the development of education, training, professional protocols and campaigns related to key areas of sexual violence reform, such as affirmative consent and stealthing.
  • Define and strengthen our sector's role in primary prevention and respectful relationships education by securing dedicated, fit-for-purpose funding.

3. Drive structural and systemic change

  • Lead and contribute to research on sexual violence. Translate evidence and practice insights into improved service design and systems change.
  • Improve the range of legal options and supports available to people impacted by sexual violence, including through changes to criminal and civil law.
  • Work with the state government and key partners to implement the remaining recommendations of the VLRC Sexual Offences Report.
  • Lead the implementation of the state sexual violence strategy to ensure it delivers whole-of-system reforms and improved outcomes.
  • Clearly define and communicate our sector's specialist expertise, philsophical approach, range of service offerings and value.

4. Grow and resource the specialist sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour workforce and the peak.

  • Develop and adapt key standards of practice and guidance providing a strong foundation for consistent, evidence-informed practice.
  • Understand the specific workforce needs of our sector and extend the range of workforce development opportunities available.
  • Design and embed a member communication and engagement strategy, including principles and mechanisms for engagement.
  • Secure ongoing funding for SASVic as peak to ensure its sustainability as a peak body, supported by strong internal systems, policies and procedures.