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Health professionals play a key role in supporting people who disclose experiences of sexual violence, and for those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, disclosure can be especially challenging due to factors like cultural stigma, language barriers or fears about immigration status.
To help health professionals provide sensitive and effective care, Prosper Project Australia has developed the We Are Survivors (WAS) campaign.
Funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, the initiative offers free resources, including tip sheets and webinars, aimed at addressing the unique needs of survivors and equipping practitioners with practical strategies to support them.
Survivors from CALD communities face several barriers when seeking help. Cultural stigma can make disclosing an assault feel shameful or socially isolating, and language barriers may prevent survivors from expressing their experiences clearly.
Many survivors, particularly refugees or those on temporary visas, fear reporting their assault due to concerns about deportation, legal repercussions or loss of financial support.
Health professionals are often the first point of contact for survivors, and their response can determine whether survivors feel safe and supported enough to continue seeking the care and assistance they need.
The resources available through the We Are Survivors campaign provide health professionals with the skills to respond to disclosures in a way which acknowledges and validates the survivor’s experience.
They guide practitioners on creating safe, private, and culturally respectful environments while also offering strategies to address common barriers such as fear of not being believed, language difficulties or concerns about immigration.
The campaign also highlights the appropriate use of interpreters to ensure confidentiality and provides practical advice on respecting survivors’ choices about whether to report an assault.
The tip sheet outlines different pathways, such as contacting support services, legal assistance or using the NSW Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO), which allows survivors to share information with police anonymously without committing to legal action.
Key tips include: creating a safe space where survivors can feel secure to talk about their experiences; reassuring survivors you believe them and recognise their courage in coming forward; understanding survivors may react in different ways due to trauma, including appearing calm or detached; using trained interpreters if needed, but not family members, to maintain confidentiality and reduce further distress; and respecting the survivor’s decisions while providing non-judgemental guidance about their options, including medical care counselling, and reporting mechanisms.
We Are Survivors resources are available in six languages – Arabic, Bengali, Vietnamese, Hindi, English and Chinese – to ensure greater accessibility for CALD communities and health professionals.
Learn more about the We Are Survivors (WAS) campaign.
Tip Sheet:
A practical guide for responding to sexual violence disclosures
Responding Sensitively and Effectively to Survivors of Sexual Violence
Supporting Survivors Through Reporting and Help-Seeking
Supporting the Recovery and Healing of Survivors of Sexual Violence