Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVA Month) is held during October each year to:
To help show your support during SVA Month, download the communications kit and branded assets on the Stakeholder Resources page (Opens in new window) .
Show your support for SVA Month by hosting an event and registering the details on the Women's Safety and Violence Prevention community events calendar.
The calendar promotes events delivered by community organisations that help bring the community together to advance women and girls, including those who identify as women.
During the month, we encourage all Queenslanders to engage in open and honest conversations about sexual violence.
Events and activities are happening across the state to support victim-survivors and to encourage discussion around consent, respect, and bystander intervention.
In 2024, Queensland passed new laws to support the prevention of sexual violence, drive change in the way offences are prosecuted and defended in the justice system, and remove outdated stereotypes and myths.
These new laws commenced on 23 September 2024 and will apply to conduct that occurs after this date. Visit the Sexual violence laws in Queensland page for more information and downloadable resources.
If you have been impacted by sexual violence, know that is not your fault and you are not to blame.
Everyone deserves to be safe from sexual violence. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, help and support is available.
Sexual violence is not only physical assault. It is any unwanted, non-consensual sexual behaviour towards another person.
We all deserve healthy relationships and positive sexual experiences based on mutual trust and respect. Talking about consent is a normal and necessary part of all positive sexual experiences. Learn more about sexual consent and check out our consent conversation starters.
The Queensland Government is committed to addressing all forms of sexual violence, harassment and abuse and eradicating these forms of violence from our communities.
The government has made strong progress in addressing sexual violence, along with intersecting forms of violence such as domestic and family violence. This includes the release of Prevent. Support. Believe. Queensland’s Framework to address Sexual Violence through three priority areas: prevention; support and healing; and accountability and justice.
Large scale reform is being delivered in response to the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce Hear Her Voice Report Two recommendations to improve Queensland’s criminal justice system for women and girls who are victim-survivors of sexual violence, or who are accused persons or offenders.
