Western Australia has taken a significant step toward strengthening its legal and community response to sexual violence, unveiling the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Strategy 2025–2035 alongside major funding boosts for specialist trauma-informed legal and forensic services.
The strategy sets out a whole-of-community approach to preventing sexual violence, improving service responses, and holding perpetrators accountable. Developed jointly by the Departments of Communities, Justice and Health, it draws heavily on the lived experience of victim-survivors, as well as expertise from frontline practitioners, academics and legal professionals.
Sexual violence remains one of the state’s most pervasive and underreported forms of harm. One in four women has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, yet the overwhelming majority of incidents never reach the justice system. The strategy seeks to address this gap through community education, targeted support, stronger perpetrator accountability, and trauma-informed services. Its first Action Plan prioritises foundational work that will underpin future, multi-year implementation plans.
Attorney General Dr Tony Buti said the strategy reflects a shared commitment to safety and justice for all Western Australians, urging the community to engage with the reforms: “Addressing sexual violence is everyone’s business.”
Specialist legal support extended
Complementing the strategy, the Cook Government has secured Commonwealth funding to extend and expand WA’s Sexual Assault Legal Service pilot to 2028. The pilot – delivered by the Women’s Legal Service WA, Ruah Legal, and the Aboriginal Family Legal Service – provides integrated, trauma-informed legal assistance, including support with restraining orders, criminal injuries compensation, victim impact statements and wraparound social supports.
Between January 2024 and June 2025, the pilot supported 135 clients and delivered more than 1,000 services. The new funding will enable the trialling of additional supports recommended by the Australian Law Reform Commission, including culturally safe Justice Navigators to help victim-survivors navigate complex legal processes, and access to appropriate restorative justice pathways.
Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk said the extension would ensure more victim-survivors receive “compassionate, culturally safe, and tailored” legal support during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
FDV forensic pilot strengthened
The Government has also committed further funding to extend the Family and Domestic Violence Forensic Pilot, operated through a partnership between the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, the Sexual Assault Resource Centre and Zonta House Refuge Association.
Operating from King Edward Memorial Hospital, the service provides trauma-informed forensic examinations and medico-legal reports for victim-survivors of serious family and domestic violence. More than 125 people have accessed the service, with forensic evidence from the pilot already proving critical to securing convictions.
An additional $300,000 will extend the pilot into 2025–26, broadening referrals to include prosecutors and police and ensuring more victim-survivors can access timely forensic support and safety planning.
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski said the program ensures victims “receive the highest level of care and the strongest chance of seeing justice served”.
These initiatives mark a substantial uplift in WA’s legal response to sexual violence and family violence, strengthening evidence-gathering, improving access to legal assistance, and embedding trauma-informed practice across justice and health systems.
Judy McLean, incoming President of the Law Society for 2026, said the developments are very welcome.
“The strategy calls for a whole-of-sector approach, and we hope the additional funding will align with that goal. Although the funding boost will help, it is unlikely to fully meet demand across the state, especially in regional and remote areas where access is still limited,” she told Brief.
“Ongoing funding beyond the pilot stage will be needed to prevent service gaps and keep care consistent. Regular monitoring and evaluation will be important to assess results and secure future support.”
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Strategy 2025–2035 is available on the WA Government website. Victims seeking support can contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or, in an emergency, call 000.
