A new specialist legal service has launched in New South Wales to provide free legal advice and support to people who have experienced sexual violence.
The Sexual Assault Survivors’ Legal Service (SASLS) is backed by $1.74 million in government funding and will operate through Legal Aid NSW, helping victim-survivors understand their legal rights and navigate the criminal justice system.
The service forms part of a broader $6.2 million Strengthening Sexual Violence Justice Responses package jointly supported by the Commonwealth and NSW governments.
Free Specialist Legal Advice
SASLS can provide advice and assistance on a wide range of legal issues connected with sexual assault, including:
- Reporting sexual assault to police
- Police investigations and criminal prosecutions
- Subpoenas
- Medical and counselling records
- Access to mobile phones and other private records
- Victims support applications
- Apprehended Violence Orders
- Other legal issues arising from sexual assault
In some circumstances, Legal Aid NSW can also provide representation where a survivor’s counselling, medical, phone or other sensitive records have been subpoenaed.
The service is designed to give survivors access to specialist advice earlier in the justice process, including before deciding whether or how to engage with police.
Protection for Counselling and Medical Records
SASLS incorporates the existing Sexual Assault Communications Privilege Service, which provides advice on legal protections applying to confidential counselling and therapeutic records.
Under NSW law, certain counselling and medical information may be protected from disclosure in criminal and Apprehended Violence Order proceedings.
The service can assist survivors whose records are subpoenaed and can also advise counsellors, health professionals and organisations about how to respond when they receive subpoenas for potentially protected information.
Wider $6.2 Million Justice Support Package
The new legal service sits alongside a $4.36 million Sexual Violence Justice System Navigator Pilot Program.
The two-year pilot is placing 11 specialist navigators across metropolitan, regional and rural NSW to provide trauma-informed support and help survivors understand the justice process and connect with legal and other services.
Navigators are operating through a mix of community organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and NSW Police locations.
A further $180,000 has been allocated to research restorative justice models as part of the broader package.
$3.35 Million for Recovery and Healing
The justice reforms sit alongside a separate $3.35 million Sexual Violence Recovery and Healing Grant Program supporting longer-term recovery initiatives.
Eleven community organisations have received funding through that program, with projects covering Aboriginal communities, multicultural communities, people with disability, adult survivors of childhood sexual violence and other priority groups.
The program received 113 applications, with 11 projects ultimately funded.
Sexual Violence Remains Widespread
Latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows more than one in five Australian women — 22 per cent, or around 2.2 million women — have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.
Around one in nine women — 11 per cent, or 1.1 million — have experienced sexual violence by a male intimate partner since the age of 15.
The new legal service is intended to reduce some of the practical and legal barriers survivors can face when deciding whether to report sexual violence or participate in criminal proceedings.
How to Contact SASLS
The Sexual Assault Survivors’ Legal Service is available through Legal Aid NSW.
Phone: 02 9219 5888
Email: sasls@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
People requiring an interpreter can contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask to be connected with SASLS.
Be the first to comment