Post by Women's Shelter Armidale Inc

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is a time to stand with victim-survivors, to listen, to believe, and to act. It is also a time to be honest about prevention. A 2023 Australian study from UNSW found deeply confronting patterns in men’s reported sexual feelings, offending behaviour, online activity, and attitudes linked to child sexual abuse. The report argues for a public health approach that does not wait until harm has already occurred. It points to the need for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, including early therapeutic support for traumatised boys, stronger safeguarding in child-focused settings, safer online systems, and earlier intervention for men and boys who need help before harm occurs. For services like Women’s Shelter Armidale, this matters. Sexual violence does not sit in isolation. The report identifies child maltreatment and violence against women as social determinants of child sexual abuse. That means prevention must include serious investment in children’s safety, trauma-informed support, respectful relationships, strong safeguarding, and systems that respond early rather than after lives have already been altered. Awareness without action is just branding with a ribbon attached. If we are serious about sexual assault awareness, we need to be serious about: • believing victim-survivors • addressing the attitudes that enable abuse • strengthening child-safe institutions • investing in early intervention • building systems that protect women, children, and young people before harm escalates. At Women’s Shelter Armidale, we know the impacts of sexual violence and coercive abuse do not end when the incident ends. They shape safety, housing, health, parenting, recovery, and the ability to rebuild. This month, we stand with victim-survivors. We also stand for prevention that is evidence-based, uncomfortable when necessary, and focused on stopping harm before it starts. #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #SAAM #ChildSafety #Prevention #GenderedViolence #DomesticFamilySexualViolence #TraumaInformed #WomensShelterArmidale