The Illawarra region is confronting a significant sexual assault crisis, with experts asserting that reported statistics vastly underestimate the reality. Over the past year, authorities recorded 519 sexual assaults, translating to approximately one incident every 17 hours. However, experts estimate that this figure accounts for only 8 percent of actual assaults, suggesting there could be as many as 6,487 incidents annually if all cases were reported to police.
Sally Stephenson, executive director of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, emphasized the community’s denial about the extent of sexual violence. “We don’t want to know or to think that so many men—predominantly women, as 82 percent of victims are female—are that dangerous to us,” she stated. This sentiment highlights a troubling reality regarding trust and safety among victims.
Rising Reports Point to a Disturbing Trend
The number of reported sexual assaults in the Illawarra has surged by 220 percent over the last two decades, increasing from 162 incidents in 2006 to the current total of 519 for the financial year ending in June 2023. Notably, the increase has accelerated in the past three reporting years, with 398 cases reported in the most recent data from the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
The demographic most affected includes women aged 25 to 44 years, but sexual assaults affect individuals across all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds. Alarmingly, in 40 percent of cases, the perpetrator is an intimate partner, indicating a direct link to domestic violence. “It’s often a form of abuse within a domestic violence relationship,” Ms. Stephenson remarked. Additionally, 32 percent of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim, suggesting a severe breach of trust.
Domestic violence incidents have also reached alarming levels, with police reporting 1,126 incidents, marking the highest rate since 2006. This ongoing trend reflects a broader issue within the community and emphasizes the urgent need for effective intervention strategies.
Improved Reporting Avenues and Their Impact
Jackie Fitzgerald, executive director of BOCSAR, attributes part of the increase in reported assaults to improved reporting mechanisms, particularly the online Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO) launched in January 2023. This system has seen a significant uptake, accounting for 39 percent of the overall increase in sexual assault reports over the past decade. Across New South Wales, sexual assault reports have increased by 8.8 percent in the last two years alone.
Despite the rise in reports, Fitzgerald clarified that SARO’s anonymous reporting does not initiate criminal investigations or police charges. “SARO is designed to offer victims a more trauma-informed and accessible reporting option, not necessarily to initiate legal proceedings,” she noted. While this may not result in immediate legal outcomes, it provides victims with a vital means of disclosing their experiences.
Karen Iles, a solicitor and advocate for sexual assault law reform, highlighted the therapeutic benefits of reporting. “Disclosing experiences of sexual violence can assist a victim to commence a healing and recovery journey,” explained Iles, who leads Violet Co Legal and Consulting. She emphasized that when victims feel believed and supported, it can be a crucial step towards recovery.
During a parliamentary session, New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley addressed the fears permeating communities. “Statistics are very little comfort to people who have been victims of crime, especially violent crime,” she stated. “Many people in these communities are fearful, and that is no way to live in a country like ours. We cannot allow this to continue.”
As the Illawarra grapples with this growing crisis, the call for action and heightened awareness around sexual violence remains more critical than ever.
