Sexual assault — including rape, sexual abuse, and other forms of sexual violence — is experienced by approximately one in five women and one in twenty men in Australia at some point in their lives. Despite this prevalence, sexual assault services are chronically under-resourced: crisis lines have long wait times, counselling backlogs are significant, and perpetrator accountability remains low. Grant funding supports sexual assault response centres (SARCs), counselling and therapeutic services, prevention education, survivor advocacy, and the organisations working to end sexual violence.
The scale of sexual violence
Who is most affected
Barriers to help-seeking
Department of Social Services (DSS)
Attorney-General's Department
Sexual violence in the criminal justice context.
State governments
NDIS
Support for people with disability who are survivors.
The Counting Dead Women Australia
Advocacy and some survivor support.
Our Watch
National sexual violence prevention.
White Ribbon Australia
Men and boys anti-violence programs.
State sexual assault referral centres
Some philanthropic income alongside government funding.
Crisis response
Counselling and therapy
Prevention education
Survivor advocacy
Child sexual abuse
Technology-facilitated sexual violence
LGBTQ+ services
Indigenous services
Perpetrator programs
Australia has invested significantly in consent education for young people — recognising that sexual violence prevention requires attitudinal change, not just service response:
- NSW, Victoria, and other states have mandated consent education in schools
- Programs like Respectful Relationships (Victoria), Consent Workshops, and university consent programs
- Evidence shows quality consent education reduces sexual violence attitudes
- Programs targeting young men and boys alongside young women are more effective than girls-only approaches
Grant applications for evidence-based consent education programs — with clear links to attitude change and behavioural outcomes — are well-positioned in the current policy environment.
Trauma-informed approach
All sexual assault services must be trauma-informed — understanding how trauma affects survivors' engagement with services. Applications demonstrating trauma-informed practice are more credible.
LGBTQ+ and diverse survivors
Sexual assault services have historically been designed for heterosexual women. Applications that specifically address the needs of LGBTQ+, male, and gender-diverse survivors fill a genuine gap.
Prevention evidence
Sexual assault prevention programs vary in quality. Applications grounded in evidence — particularly the Our Watch Change the Story framework — are more credible than generic awareness campaigns.
Rural and remote access
Sexual assault services are concentrated in metropolitan areas. Applications for telehealth, outreach, or regional services address demonstrated geographic inequity.
Tahua's grants management platform supports sexual assault funders and survivor support organisations — with client journey tracking, service access data, prevention program reach, and the reporting tools that help sexual assault funders demonstrate their investment in survivor support and sexual violence prevention.