Frustrated by the glacial efforts to address sexualised violence (SV), University of New England researcher Professor Rikki Jones has assembled a multi-disciplinary, multi-university rural research group that is the first of its kind in Australia. It includes nursing, social work, counselling and psychology researchers from Southern Cross University, Central Queensland University, the University of Wollongong, Federation University, University of Sydney and UNE, working in partnership with specialist mental health alliance, the Manna Institute.
“SV and sexual assault are a feature of life for many in rural, remote and regional Australia,” Dr Jones said. “It results in significant and long-term physical, emotional and psychological trauma. We simply had to establish a group to focus on these issues, for these women, in the hope of driving meaningful change.”
SV encompasses a range of behaviours, including sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault, rape, exposure to pornographic material, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment and exploitation, and recording private or sexual behaviour without permission. It is frequently embedded in domestic and family violence, and increasingly assisted by technology.
The new research group will focus on the barriers to victim disclosure and help-seeking that are peculiar to rural and regional communities, as outlined in a scoping review recently submitted to the Trauma, Violence and Abuse journal.
“The small size of many communities means there is little confidentiality or anonymity around reporting,” Prof. Jones said. “Stereotypes about gender behaviour and masculinity, and what constitutes a healthy relationship, also persist. Perpetrators are most often known to the victim, and both the social and geographical isolation can make it easier for them and their allies to control and monitor victims.
“Shame can be especially pronounced for women subjected to SV in rural or remote areas, and that shame and stigma manipulated to maintain their silence and prevent them from seeking help. They can be completely disempowered.”
The researchers aim to assess what support victims receive, and what interventions work best, in collaboration with communities and NGOs. “These victim survivors are embedded in their communities and the only way we will effect change is if the community is driving it,” Prof. Jones said.
Outcomes may include new frameworks and policies to encourage the reporting of SV across all health services. “One project won’t fix this; we will need a body of projects, both formal and informal, and it will take time,” Prof. Jones said.
Aware that at least one previous study concluded that most SV in rural communities is never reported, the new research group will also be addressing findings, that:
- Misconceptions around consent and what constitutes sexualised violence still need to be corrected;
- Respectful, confidential, timely, coordinated and safe disclosure, treatment and reporting services are urgently needed, including sexual assault counselling, mental health and financial support, crisis housing and legal advice;
- All health providers need to be equipped to screen women for possible SV and activate appropriate support; and
- Male police officers often feel ill-equipped to respond to SV or domestic violence disclosures and our justice system often leads to re-traumatisation.
