Sexual violence is common, but highly under-reported. When survivors engage with the justice system – whether civil or criminal – it can be a confronting and disempowering experience. Too often the burden is on survivors to navigate a complex system that fails them by compounding trauma and making recovery more difficult.

That’s why SASVic and Family Safety Victoria are proud to be working on a Justice Navigator pilot in Victoria.

Building on recommendations from the Victorian Law Reform Commission Report in 2021, and modelled on longstanding independent sexual violence adviser (ISVA) roles in England and Wales, Justice Navigators will be embedded in Victorian specialist sexual assault services and will:

• support survivors to understand and exercise their rights

• assist survivors to and navigate all the support, compensation, justice, and recovery options available to them

• be free and available to survivors for as long as support is needed

• not require a survivor to report to police before accessing support

• provide support and information to secondary victims such as children, friends and family members

• complement and be integrated with existing legal supports and services in Victoria

• build the capacity of other professionals and sectors to work with and advocate for survivors.

Ultimately, we hope that Justice Navigators will improve justice outcomes for survivors and become a permanent feature of the specialist sexual assault sector across Victoria and beyond.

Update - November 2025

Family Safety Victoria, in partnership with Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic), have progressed work on the design of the Justice Navigator’s Pilot.

The pilot’s design has been shaped by extensive consultation activities with service providers, advocacy organisations, justice professionals, government agencies, and directly with victim survivors of sexual violence. The project team appreciates the strong support received for the Justice Navigator model.

Justice Navigator roles will be funded and operational for two years, with an independent evaluation to assess:

• the remit and capacity of the roles

• how best to support victim survivors of sexual assault to navigate justice and recovery options

• how Justice Navigator roles work within the broader sexual violence service system.

Justice Navigator roles will be embedded in specialist sexual assault services with the following features:

• take a broad view and definition of justice (and not require victim survivors to report to police)

• accessing support from a Justice Navigator will occur through localised intake processes at the hosting specialist sexual assault service

• be available as an additional or alternative support for all victim survivors of sexual assault, alongside other local service offerings including counsellor advocates, group therapy, etc.

Family Safety Victoria will advise of next steps as they become available.

SASVic is preparing for the commencement and implementation of the Justice Navigators pilot through the development of tools, resources, and induction and training opportunities. SASVic will also support a regular community of practice and reflective practice sessions for the Justice Navigators.

This page will be updated with new information as the pilot progresses. Please contact the Project Lead Penny Drysdale at Justice.Navigators@sasvic.org.au if you require further information.