Here & Now
Content note: trans people and sexual assault
Here & No is new digital animation resources that support trans people who have experienced sexual assault.
We developed the resources with funding from NSW Health and in partnership with ACON’s Pride Training and the Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence team in response to national research from The Kirby Institute, which found that more than half of the trans people sampled had experienced sexual violence, which is four times higher than the general Australian population. The research also revealed that most trans people had never reported these experiences, nor sought help.
These findings come after the release earlier this year of the The Crossing the Line study from the Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), conducted at Western Sydney University (WSU), which found that trans women of colour were more likely than cis women to report having been sexually assaulted and sexually harassed multiple times.
During Trans Awareness Week, it’s important that we shine a light on the issues trans people are facing locally. In NSW and across Australia, trans people are experiencing an epidemic of sexual violence and most never tell anyone about it, or seek help, Here & Now has been developed by trans people for trans people and offers the community some guidance for accessing support and medical care after experiencing sexual violence. Research into the lived experiences of trans people in Australia tells us that there is a pressing need for interventions that are both trans-led and meaningful for this population. It is critically important that there is help available. Equally important, this resource reminds survivors of sexual assault that they remain in control of what happens to them.
Here & Now comprises of four animations, five new TransHub pages and two posters on the importance of pronouns. Resources for community members have been launched and resources for sexual assault services will launch next week.
Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/aconhealth/posts/10160329569773222
Community Page: https://www.transhub.org.au/herenow
Animations are here: https://www.transhub.org.au/sexual-assault/where
Media release: https://www.acon.org.au/about-acon/latest-news/#new-resources-to-support-trans-people-after-sexual-assault-released
A huge shout out and thanks to Liz Duck-Chong, Brianna Curtis, Sarah Lambert, Joe Lonn, Kai Noonan and Eloise Layard for their work on this project.
Illawarra Interagency 