Investment of $19.6m aims to support boosted access to restorative justice
Australia’s sitting federal government has announced funding that seeks to support the expansion and extension of access to specialised, trauma-informed sexual violence legal services pilots, which will operate until at least 2027–28 in the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.
The federal government’s existing $19.6m investment, which is part of a broader $21.4m package, will support the pilots.
“The expansion of the sexual violence legal services pilots to every state and territory, additional service capabilities, and the extension of the pilot program until at least 2027-28 will assist victims and survivors to hold people who use violence to account, while also ensuring they feel supported and empowered to be guided by their own goals in their journey of recovery,” said Michelle Rowland, Australia’s attorney-general, in a media release.
According to the media release, with the expansion, the pilots will improve access to restorative justice pathways, add options for victims and survivors seeking justice, and test a new culturally safe ‘justice system navigator’ service to help them access their chosen justice pathway.
In the ACT, the expanded pilots seek to boost support for those opting for restorative justice. Meanwhile, in WA, the expansion aims to offer access to restorative justice for young individuals facing intimate image-based sexual abuse, as well as the sexual assault legal service as a consistent point of contact for victims and survivors undergoing recovery.
In the media release, the Australian government also announced support for the establishment of new sexual assault legal services pilots in the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Tasmania, as well as efforts to establish additional pilots in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales.
The following service providers will deliver the pilot services:
The media release explained that the sexual violence legal services pilots seek to provide holistic responses to sexual violence, empower victims and survivors, and improve justice outcomes.
Since launching last year, the pilots have included legal assistance and representation, as well as associated services such as financial assistance, counselling, and specialist support.
According to the media release, the Albanese government has invested over $4bn – more than any prior Australian government – in family, domestic, and sexual violence.
“There is more work to do, but these pilots along with our record funding for frontline services, paid domestic violence leave, making the Leaving Violence Program permanent, housing and legal support for women escaping violence and programs to stop the violence at the start are making a life changing difference,” said Tanya Plibersek, social services minister, in the media release.
The federal government’s announcement that it was expanding the pilots into all the country’s states and territories coincided with the 16 Days of Activism.
The media release noted the rising use of digital tools to enforce coercive control and stalk, harass, and abuse women and girls.
“This year’s theme for 16 Days of Activism highlights the urgent need to end digital abuse against women and girls,” said Ged Kearney, assistant minister for social services and for the prevention of family violence, in the media release.
“We know that technology facilitated sexual abuse is rising, especially among young people, so our response must ensure victims and survivors have access to support that can adapt and address this evolving threat,” Kearney added.
