The Albanese Labor Government is commissioning a world-first survey into LGBTIQA+ people’s experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment, in partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
A critical step in delivering the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 (National Plan) is building a picture of the unique, intersecting and lifelong impacts of gender-based violence and abuse against LGBTIQA+ people.
The survey will build on the recently released Personal Safety Survey (PSS) 2021-22 from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and provide broader information on prevalence rates, social norms, attitudes, beliefs, bystander actions, and help-seeking behaviour in LGBTIQA+ communities.
Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Justine Elliot, reinforced the importance of ending gender-based violence in all its forms and across all cohorts.
“Evidence shows that LGBTIQA+ people are at an increased risk of gender-based violence, however there is currently no benchmark data available within Australia or internationally about their experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment,” said Assistant Minister Elliot.
“This innovative new survey is the first of its kind in Australia and internationally, and will help us understand the most appropriate support services and prevention activities for LGBTIQA+ communities and people who have experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment.”
The survey will importantly contain a dedicated First Nations component, collecting de-identified data from LGBTIQA+ people in urban, regional, and remote LGBTIQA+ communities, including LGBTIQA+ First Nations Sistergirls and Brotherboys.
Findings from the survey will also be used to inform future actions under the recently launched Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023-25.
The Government has invested a record $2.3 billion to address gender-based violence across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Budgets. This includes funding through the National Plan for the UNSW survey, and $1.5 million for a number of co-designed prevention pilot projects led by the LGBTIQA+ community.
Associate Professor and Scientia Research Fellow at UNSW, Dr Michael Salter, lead researcher and one of the Chief Investigators, said that the study will set a new standard for research in Australia.
“This will be the largest study of LGBTIQA+ experiences of sexual violence undertaken in Australia or internationally,” Dr Michael Salter said.
“It will provide foundational evidence to inform sexual violence prevention and support for LGBTIQA+ communities.”
Included in the team of Chief investigators are First Nations lead Associate Professor Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat as well as Professor Jan Breckenridge, and Dr Andy Kaladelfos.
The survey is now live and can be accessed on the UNSW website.
