$10.5M in grants to prevent and respond to sexual violence

10 July 2023

Projects and organisations supporting women, children and other high priority groups who are at riskof, or experiencing sexual violence will receive a share of more than $10.5 million in joint NSW and Commonwealth Government funding.

NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, said 14 projects have received between $100,000 to $1.5 million each through the Sexual Violence Project Fund grants program. This program supports the delivery of actions under the NSW Sexual Violence Plan 2022-2027.

“Sexual violence has a devastating impact on victim-survivors and those around them. Early intervention is critical to reducing the prevalence of sexual violence and improving responses,” Minister Harrison said.

“These grants will fund intervention initiatives that support specific groups at higher risk of experiencing sexual violence, including women and children, First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQ+ people, older women and people with disability.

“This means greater access to services and support for victim-survivors to enable a trauma-informed and inclusive response.”

One in three women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and one in five has experienced sexual violence. A 2021 study by Monash University indicated that one in three migrant and refugee women had experienced some form of family and domestic violence.

Federal Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said the grants program was delivered as part of the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses National Partnership Agreement 2021-27 and aligned with the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.

“Sexual violence does not discriminate. It targets victims of all colours and faiths, from all backgrounds and socio-economic groups,” Minister Rishworth said.

“The Commonwealth is committed to doing everything it can to stop sexual violence, and to better support victim-survivors to ensure improved outcomes.

“We are working in partnership with the NSW Government, as well as other states and territories and community organisations, to end the cycle of violence and provide additional on-the-ground support.”

Domestic Violence NSW CEO, Delia Donovan, said the projects funded under the Sexual Violence Project Fund will support community organisations to deliver trauma-informed initiatives that have been co-designed with victim-survivors to enable greater inclusivity in response to sexual violence.

“As an organisation, we want to see an end not just to sexual violence but also the systemic violence that re-traumatises victim-survivors navigating their own personal road to recovery”, Ms Donovan said.

“Sexual violence is pervasive and insidious, demanding a holistic and accessible response. Every victim-survivor’s story is unique, and our systems of support must be equipped to listen and accommodate that.

“The initiatives funded through the sexual violence grant program will allow a more intersectional response across government and non-government partners to change the narrative and break the cycle.”

CEO of the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), Jorge Aroche, said programs supporting refugee victim-survivors of sexual violence are vital.

“Dislocation and displacement are synonymous with the refugee experience. Because of this, women and girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. Our job is to create culturally acceptable supports that resonate.”

“Our team maintains strong relationships with the refugee community, this funding allows us to extend our work with young people, adults and parents, to build awareness, knowledge, and essential supports.”

For more information on the successful grant recipients, visit the NSW Sexual Violence Project Fund webpage.