Page 2169 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 3 August 2021
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SACAT also provides a 24-hour response and works closely with the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and Canberra Hospital’s FAMSAC team. Its first priority is always to ensure the mental and physical safety and wellbeing of victims and survivors of sexual assault.
Between July 2020 and June 2021, there were 508 sexual assault offences reported to ACT Policing. ACT Policing acknowledges that not all victim-survivors want their reports to proceed to prosecution in the courts, and that for those victim-survivors who do, it can be a distressing and difficult process.
ACT Policing works closely with the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, which provides confidential counselling services free of charge and can assist victim-survivors with attending hospital, provide advice and support through criminal justice processes, and offer referral to practitioners to assist in recovery.
SACAT detectives undertake specialist sexual assault investigation training. ACT Policing is continuing to develop relevant skills and expertise within SACAT and across ACT Policing more broadly. Additionally, both SACAT and FAMSAC offer training programs to other organisations to facilitate a collaborative approach to providing support to victim-survivors.
All SACAT investigators must undertake a mental health review every six months, to ensure their own mental wellbeing when investigating these crimes. Supporting our workforces to provide these services is a vital part of delivering specialist support to victim-survivors.
ACT Policing has recently commenced a review of SACAT to identify if current practices and policies within SACAT can be enhanced. The review will look to identify structural, procedural or policy changes that could increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the area, including ensuring that the team is best placed to continue to support the strategic direction of ACT Policing and the mental health and wellbeing of the investigators in the area.
Since the Assembly resolution, the ACT government has initiated a large program of work that looks at all matters related to sexual assault in the ACT. An event was held by the Deputy Chief Minister on 28 April to announce the establishment of the sexual assault prevention and response program. The event was attended by relevant ministers, other MLAs, all directors-general and key community stakeholders. The program is being overseen by a steering committee and three working groups, which are focused on prevention, response and law reform in relation to sexual assault in the ACT.
Over the next three to four months, the steering committee and the working groups will consider what reforms are needed in the ACT to improve prevention and responses to victim-survivors. Before the end of the year, the steering committee will provide its recommendations to the government for consideration.
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