The Department of Child Safety, Youth and Woman is to trial youth sexual violence response clinics in Toowoomba, Yarrabah and on the Fraser Coast.
The clinics will provide specialist support to young sexual violence victims and young people who are engaging in early sexual behaviour.
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Di Farmer (pictured) said the trials would be tailored to the specific needs of each community.
“One in six women and one in 10 men have experienced sexual or physical abuse before the age of 15 and we know the effects can be profound and lifelong,” Ms Farmer said.
“We also know that while youth sexual violence affects young people in all communities in Queensland, communities which are most affected also tend to experience a higher rate of disadvantage.”
She said addressing youth sexual violence was especially complex because some young people might be both victims and perpetrators.
“This is why specialised responses are needed,” the Minister said.
“These place-based trials will be locally designed, and will draw on the strengths of local communities and existing services to provide support to young people who have experienced sexual violence and abuse, or who are engaging in sexual offending behaviour.”
Ms Farmer said the trials were part of a $12 million funding package responding to the Government’s Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse Final Report, which outlined a range of actions supporting immediate and long-term generational change.
“The report made it clear we need to address the root causes of sexual violence, and that means starting when kids are young to teach them what’s okay and what’s not okay, what healthy relationships look like and how to speak up if something is happening to them,” she said.
