Communications privilege service to help health organisations, professionals respond to subpoenas
Through the newly established Sexual Assault Survivors’ Legal Service (SASLS), the federal and New South Wales governments are collaborating on a $1.74m initiative intending to improve support for victim-survivors of sexual violence.
This announcement came from Michelle Rowland, federal attorney-general; Ged Kearney, federal assistant minister for the prevention of family violence; Michael Daley, NSW attorney general; and Jodie Harrison, NSW minister for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.
According to their joint media release, the initiative will help Legal Aid NSW offer free legal advice and assistance to sexual violence victim-survivors dealing with the justice system.
“No one should have to navigate the justice system alone after experiencing sexual assault,” said Monique Hitter, Legal Aid NSW’s chief executive officer. “The launch of this new service will help ensure survivors have access to free, specialist legal advice when they need it most.”
“We know the legal system can be challenging to navigate and this will help support complainants every step of the way,” Daley said.
“The Sexual Assault Survivors' Legal Service will be another vital support available to victim-survivors, and builds on the Commonwealth's commitment to end family, domestic and sexual violence, including through the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032,” Rowland added.
The joint media release explained that support through the SASLS will span legal and law enforcement matters and issues in connection with sexual assaults, such as police reports, subpoenas, and the criminal justice process.
“With less than 10% of victim survivors of sexual violence making a report to police, SASLS will remove barriers to reporting through access to cost free, tailored and specialist legal support,” Kearney said.
The sexual assault communications privilege service within the SASLS will assist health organisations and professionals with responding to subpoenas for counselling or medical records potentially protected under NSW law.
Per the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, approximately one in nine women in the country has experienced sexual violence beginning at age 15.
“For many victim-survivors, navigating the legal system can be overwhelming,” Harrison said. “Accessing the right support at the right time is an important part of ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect throughout the justice process.”
According to the joint media release, the new free legal service is part of the NSW government’s expanded $6.2m package for strengthening sexual violence justice responses.
The package also includes $4.36m devoted to the sexual violence justice system navigator pilot program, encompassing 11 locations across the state.
The federal government’s investment, made possible through the federation funding agreement, aims to enhance support for sexual violence victim-survivors in terms of crisis response, early intervention, recovery, healing, and primary prevention.
Additional funding of $180 seeks to supplement research regarding restorative justice models.
The new initiative is part of the state and federal governments’ efforts to boost support for sexual violence victim-survivors, which includes a $3.35m investment for the sexual violence recovery and healing grant program.
Here are some other recent news stories on Australian legal services addressing cases involving sexual violence.
In August, the NSW government announced the first statewide legal service dedicated to LGBTQIA+ matters, which would include support for sexual violence matters.
In March, the federal government highlighted funding for specialised and trauma-informed sexual violence legal services pilots in NSW and Queensland.
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