Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence says most sexual assaults against women happen at home, rise in stalking and strangulation

Stalking and strangulation is on the rise across the Gold Coast, with domestic violence support groups revealing another worrying new trend that’s affecting thousands of families.

SEXUALLY violent attacks remain an increasing a problem in Gold Coast homes, with nearly half of the 5000 women who sought help in the past year assaulted in their place of residence.

Of the 1254 clients helped through a health and wellbeing program, 90 per cent of the perpetrators were a current or ex partner, with 73 per cent of women experiencing stalking and strangulation.

The shocking statistics were revealed at the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence annual meeting held in Southport last month.

Throughout the year the non-profit spent nearly 14,000 hours helping 4870 clients through its sexual violence program and 1254 through its women’s health and wellbeing program.

Stalking and strangulation featured in the experiences of more than 73 per cent of clients who were helped through the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence.

Victims of sexual assaults were predominantly aged between 19-34, making up 45 per cent of the total, while those aged 35-54 accounted for 35 per cent. Under 18s were 14 per cent of the victims, while those 55 and older accounted for 6 per cent of sexual assaults.

One quarter of the women were from culturally and linguistically diverse community with 70 per cent of “Anglo” background.

Meanwhile, 75 per cent of the women who took part in the health and wellbeing program were aged 35-54, with 16 per cent aged 19-34 and 8 per cent 55 and over.

Of those who contacted the centre, stalking and strangulation featured in the experiences of more than 73 per cent of clients. Nearly 80 per cent of the incidents occurred at home.

GCCASV director Di Macleod said new resources were allocated and dispersed at a state and federal level this year, and the centre received short-term funding to help it employ four extra part time staff until June 30 this year.

“While appreciative of the extra funds which took some of the pressure off an overloaded staff team, we now have to strongly advocate and lobby for this funding to continue,” she said.

“This will enable us to maintain momentum and effectively forward plan our responses.”

The Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence only received $20,000 in donations from businesses and the community in 2021.

According to the organisation’s financial statement, in the past year the much-needed service received a $1 million government grant, a one-off $50,000 Covid payment and the centre self raised $15,430. Business and community donations to the vital service were only $20,000.

“In addition to specialist funding for sexual and domestic violence, one of the most critical, foundational issues was housing,” said Ms Macleod.

“There is simply not enough affordable, safe, long term housing options for women and their children escaping violence and we commit to continue lobbying to address this basic human

right.”

A testimonial from a client who received help 25-years-ago expressed gratitude to sexual assault counsellors for support in the weeks after the incident through all the court processes in another state and coping with both perpetrators not being convicted.

Nearly half of the women who reported sexual assault were attacked in their place of residence.

“I had both individual counselling and therapeutic group work. I experienced secondary trauma through the lengthy court process and navigated the breakdown of family relationships, still impacted 25 years later, due to victim blaming,” said the woman, now a social worker.

“The isolation was profound and the devastation to my life was real and overwhelming. I felt like the person I was prior to this assault died.

“But I rebuilt a new person from the pieces of me that were shattered. I am absolutely a survivor but I have integrated this into my identity so that it no longer defines all of me.

“It is part of my story; the scars remain present but softer now. I still prioritise a sense of safety daily and respect my need for this.”

“Thank you for your work in fighting for women, in fighting against violence against women, at the individual and systemic levels, and for continuing your wonderful service to our community. Your work literally changes lives.”

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