On Monday, December 2, 2024 CWSW released our review of the specialist Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS). The review found that there are large gaps in service delivery across WA, including many areas with no access to sexual assault services, limited outreach and an inadequate funding pool, resulting in inequitable access to services across the State – particularly between metropolitan and regional Western Australia. The entire SASS workforce is comprised of only 12 FTE and access to forensic and medical examinations is dependent on location.
The sexual violence response infrastructure in WA is threadbare at best, and as a result too many victim-survivors are going without the bare minimum level of support.
The review makes 16 recommendations aimed at ensuring victim-survivors have access to high quality, wrap-around support through the specialist sexual assault services, and these services are supported to deliver and maintain expertise in their communities.
CWSW looks forward to working with our services, Government partners and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for victim-survivors of sexual assault in WA.
