Ongoing structured consultation program with victim-survivors of sexual assault

The ACT Government has partnered with Women's Health Matters (WHM) to develop a victim-survivor consultation model and pilot the model. In 2024–25, WHM finalised the design of the Victim Survivor Voices pilot which will consult on 3 priority topics: the Strategy, improving understandings of coercive control, and enhancing supports for people with disability impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV). The pilot has generated strong community interest. From February to June 2025, WHM received 98 expressions of interest across the 3 topics. Consultation on the ACT DFSV Strategy commenced in March 2025, with early feedback on the engagement model being overwhelmingly positive. The ACT Government has committed an additional $646,000 in the 2025–26 Budget to extend the Victim Survivor Voices pilot into 2027. This funding will support continued, meaningful engagement with people who have lived or living experience of DFSV, ensuring their voices remain central to policy and service reform. For more information see Victim Survivor Voice Project – Womens Health Matters.