LGBTQA+ communities experience highly disproportionate rates of sexual violence, yet are often left out of the conversation. Heteronormative and cisgenderist societal frameworks are not only drivers of violence towards community members, but can impact service provision, reporting procedures and a victim-survivors healing and recovery journey.

ACON’s Sexual Violence Consult Service has delivered consultation and training to NSW service providers to foster safer, more inclusive spaces for LGBTQA+ victim-survivors disclosing and seeking support. Through the consult service:

§ We have found that NSW frontline staff are actively trying to be inclusive and affirming for LGBTQA+ victim-survivors disclosing but face challenges due to heteronormative and cisgenderist systems that are not being reviewed/changed, such as medical databases that record client notes.

Many LGBTQA+ victim-survivors do not know that they can receive support from e.g. Sexual Assault Services due to the binary nature of these processes, as well as many not knowing these services exist.

We have created a set of LGBTQA+ Guidelines for NSW professionals in how to maintain an inclusive and affirming practice, as well as how to advocate for LGBTQA+ victim-survivors navigating these systems. These Guidelines were reviewed by professionals in the sector, people with lived experience and include ACON specialist knowledge.

We will present on not only why it is crucial for service providers to be inclusive and affirming for every victim-survivor, but on how continuing to listen and be led by LGBTQA+ people with lived experience is key. Staff members are not always aware that they can make immediate change themselves. Being able to identify what can be done as an individual and what requires organisational change helps empower service providers in creating safer environments for all.