SASVic initial response to 2023-2024 state budget
SASVic welcomes yesterday’s Victorian state government's budget announcement. Importantly, the government has acted on our concerns about the negative impacts of short-term boost funding in relation to staffing and program certainty. The new funding, while a modest amount, is ongoing.
We know that this funding does not adequately address the long waiting times for survivors and others affected by sexual assault seeking therapeutic counselling or the pressure on specialist services. We will continue to advocate for adequate funding.
We also know that the justice system does not meet the needs of victim survivors. The Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) has outlined the pressing and profound changes needed to stop further harm and re-traumatisation.
We call on the government to honour its commitment to "overhaul the way sexual offences are reported and dealt with." The VLRC report was commissioned by the government in "recognition that more must be done to make sure that our laws and institutions effectively deliver justice to victim-survivors and keep our community safe."
We will continue to hold the government to account on this promise.
In the words of the Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, "The system must change. This is too important not to act."
Funding for SASVic members
Specialist sexual assault support services have been provided $3.95 million over four years, with $1.1 million ongoing annually.
Specialist harmful sexual behaviour services have been provided $1.9 million over four years and $0.5 million ongoing annually.
Other key initiatives
The government has provided $0.5 million to build the first Australian memorial to acknowledge survivors of sexual assault, in Ballarat.
Aboriginal-led sexual assault support services have been provided $5.5 million over four years and $1.6 million ongoing annually.
Victorian Institution of Forensic Medicine has been provided with the funding to implement a new clinical forensic medicine service model that increases workforce capacity and meets the needs of victim survivors of sexual violence and harm.
2023-24: $1.4m
2024-25: $3.8m
2025-26: $7m
2026-27: $7.2m
The government has provided $58.8 million for civil claims costs for historical institutional child abuse suffered by former wards of the State while in the State's care, and for a Victorian redress scheme for people who experienced child abuse and neglect while placed in historical institutional care prior to 1990.
The government has also provided $171.1 million for delivering improved outcomes for children in residential care including therapeutic support in residential care homes and for addressing child sexual exploitation.
There has also been allocated funding for trauma-informed gender response support for women in custody as part of a program to support the corrections system to improve community safety.