April is Sexual Assault Awareness month (SAAM), the goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness of the issue of sexual assault and educate our community on how we can all play a part in prevention. This year, the theme is “I Ask”, which encourages everyone to put consent into practice.   In Australia, Since the age of 15, approx. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men have experienced sexual violence Across their lifetime, approx. 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual harassment Approximately 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18 (Personal Safety Survey 2 ..read more

Beginning the transition to university can be a time that brings up lots of different emotions – excitement, nervousness, anticipation, even feelings of grief. Going to university can mean lots of things for different people – it can mean leaving home, getting a new start, having more freedom, starting adulthood, making new friends – and hopefully some learning in there too! You may have heard lots of stories already from older siblings, friends or just through the grapevine about what campus life is like – some of which may sound really fun and some a little daunting. One of the big topics ou ..read more

On the 21st of August, 2019, George Pell’s convictions were upheld by Victoria’s Court of Appeal. The stigma and shame of experiencing sexual violence often results in the silence of those who have been harmed. We know that, in many cases, sexual assault can take decades to report; if ever reported at all. I had hoped that the Court of Appeal’s decision would bring vindication, relief, and empowerment to people who had experienced childhood abuse; irrespective of whether they had ever reported the crimes committed against them. I had hoped that those who were currently pursuing justice would f ..read more

NATTERS FROM 1988 TO 2018- Celebrating 30 years A PASSING PARADE OF PERCEPTIONS AND IDIOSYNCRATIC INTERPRETATIONS: From Kalparrin to Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault: Preface: 2018 denotes the 30th anniversary of the establishment of a Centre Against Sexual Assault in Gippsland.  The agency began as Kalparrin Sexual Abuse Centre Inc., incorporated in December 1986; this was revised in April 1988 to become Kalparrin Centre Against Sexual Assault Inc.  The agency commenced its operational work in 1988.  And, in 1994, another revision occurred and it became Gippsland Centre ..read more

http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/5446611/former-teacher-jailed-for-child-pornography/ Latrobe Valley Express reported 12 June 2018 in reference to “Former teacher jailed for child pornography”. This piece is not related to the actual crimes referred to above, but more to the potentially extensive impacts of such crimes. Serious and abhorrent crimes such as this by persons in positions of authority and trust, especially against children, naturally immediately affect and impact upon those who have been abused.  They also impact heavily on those who care for and support those who ..read more

Words by: Nelly Thomas www.nellythomas.com Health Ambassador: Jeans Hailes for Women’s Health   I am a comedian. I have no business whatsoever talking to you about sexual assault. However, a strange thing happened to me over a decade ago – the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne asked me to help them with their sex-ed program for teens. They said it wasn’t working because it was a bit too… boring. I worked with them to take the health messages and jazz them up with some jokes, songs and other stuff. The kids lapped it up. These days I’m often asked to go and speak at schools and health ev ..read more

In recent weeks, there have been a number of high-profile claims of sexual misconduct, both domestically and abroad. Whilst it is positive that such behaviour has been exposed and publically condemned, there is still a notable tendency for many to question the behaviour of the person who was assaulted, rather than the person who committed the crime. In discussion surrounding such allegations of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault, it is not uncommon for some culpability of the person who experienced the assault; or diminish the culpability of the person who harmed them. “They were drunk” “Wh ..read more

In case you missed it, Victoria Police recently posted on their Facebook page, bringing to light the wonderful work that occurs across the state of Victoria through the Multidisciplinary Centres. We are so proud that our beautiful office space here in Morwell was used to showcase this work. “Believe it or not, this is a special type of police station.  It is one of eight Multidisciplinary Centres (or MDCs) around Victoria which are designed to provide an integrated and victim-centred way of responding to sexual crime and child physical abuse. MDCs, like this one in Morwell, house a range ..read more

Peace in Nature Totems Totems: In Indigenous culture a totem is a natural object, plant or animal that is inherited by members of a clan or family as their spiritual emblem. Totems define people’s roles and responsibilities, and their relationships with each other and their creation. (Reference: www.riverina-e-schools.nsw.ed.au)   This extraordinary and unique gallery of art has been created, designed and handcrafted specifically for this space, Gippsland Multidisciplinary Centre (MDC), by local indigenous artists Aunty Gloria Whalan, Uncle Dennis Seymour and Elen Foy. The art is an ..read more

Imagine… You go through a travel agent to book yourself a little getaway. You discuss what you’d like to do, and where you’d like to go, and take out travel insurance. Sometime during your trip- that you happen to be really enjoying- you find out your travel agent didn’t organise your travel insurance, as promised. You feel angry and let down; your agent has potentially put you at risk of harm, and what you negotiated before embarking on your trip hasn’t been honoured. The travel agent does not understand why you’re upset; you’re having fun, right? They say, “It’s a really safe place; you have ..read more