The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are building a safer New South Wales for older women, with the launch today of new training and resources to improve supports for those who have experienced sexual violence.
The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are building a safer New South Wales for older women, with the launch today of new training and resources to improve supports for those who have experienced sexual violence.
Developed with over $500,000 funding from the Sexual Violence Project Fund, the Older Women’s Network NSW has created a package of resources, including four moving videos to raise awareness of sexual violence experienced by older women, and tools and guides to assist specialist sexual assault services respond to reports of abuse.
The 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that 3.2 per cent of women over 65 years had experienced sexual harassment in the last 12 months, and 0.5 per cent of those over 55 had experienced sexual violence in the last two years.
Sexual violence is often under-reported usually due to shame, fear, or guilt. Older women face similar barriers, as well as those related to ageism, positioning them as asexual, less credible and less valuable, creating a context in which disclosures are minimised or never made.
The “Hear Our Voices” initiative challenges this, and includes resources to support reporting:
- A report documenting key themes and barriers to help-seeking
- A ‘body mapping’ gallery documenting older women’s experiences of sexual violence, disclosure, healing and resilience
- Practitioner fact sheets
- An audit and planning tool
- Guides for frontline services and specialist workers
- Guide for trainers, educators and facilitators to deliver training safely and effectively.
The resources and training package were co-designed with older women, putting victim-survivor voices at the centre and ensuring a trauma-informed approach that is responsive to the needs of older women.
The training package is available to all service providers at: https://voices.ownnsw.org.au/
The $10 million Sexual Violence Project Fund is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments for one-off, time-limited early intervention and response projects that address sexual violence.
It is part of the NSW Government’s wider effort to address sexual violence and elder abuse in our community. This includes funding for the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline and the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission.
Federal Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Ged Kearney said:
“Women have fought for decades to have sexual violence addressed at every life stage. This funding recognises that older women deserve specialised, trauma-informed supports tailored to the unique barriers they face when accessing care.
“We know that sexual violence is underreported and under recognised, and this is especially true for older women. Age does not protect women from harm, often it can hide it and exclude them from supports. I want older women to know that we are determined to change that.
“The Albanese Labor Government has made the largest investment in Australia’s history to end family, domestic and sexual violence, $4 billion, and that commitment includes support for older women. We will continue to work in partnership with state and territory governments so that no women are left behind.”
NSW Minister for Seniors and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
“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.
“The Older Women’s Network project will close a gap in raising awareness in our community about elder sexual abuse, as well as making sure that frontline services are in a position to respond in a trauma-informed way.
“Thank you to the Older Women’s Network for its thorough approach to addressing this issue with the ‘Hear our Voices’ project.”
CEO Older Women’s Network NSW Yumi Lee said:
“For too many older women, sexual violence has been carried alone, dismissed because of their age, doubted because of stereotypes, or shamed into silence.
“This project says clearly and publicly: we hear you, we believe you, and we are building systems that will respond properly.
“I encourage all services to access these resources so older women can be better seen, heard and supported as they navigate their journey following sexual assaults, whether perpetrated in the distant past or now.”
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual violence, call the 1800 FULLSTOP for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For support for elder abuse, call the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission on
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 ELDERHelp, 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.