July 24, 2025 • 14 mins
This week we're looking into an issue that's often under-reported but deeply felt, turning our attention to sexual violence in regional SA.
We ask; What does sexual violence look like in regional SA? Where can survivors turn for help? And how can communities take action to stop violence before it starts?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My Heart.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hi, I'm Jackie Lymb with iHeart Essay. This week we're
looking into an issue that's often under reported but deeply felt.
We're turning our attention to sexual violence in regional South Australia.
While sexual violence affects people everywhere, the impact in regional
and rural areas can be especially devastating, made worse by
limited access to support services, greater social stigma, and fewer
(00:25):
opportunities for education around consent, healthy relationships and reporting options.
Recent government initiatives, including new funding for prevention and recovery hubs,
aim to address these gaps, but with disturbing statistics continuing
to emerge, it's clear that much more work needs to
be done, not just in the metro centers, but in
towns and communities across the state. So today we're asking
(00:47):
what does sexual violence look like in Regional South Australia,
Where can survivors turn to for help and how can
communities take action to stop violence before it starts. Our
reporter Rob McLennan spoke to Latrobian diversity researcher Professor Lisa
Hooker on the issue and discover the stark and scary
reality for our regions.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
We have a small amount of research in Australia that
indicates if there is a higher prevalence rate in rural
and regional areas, but we certainly need more information. An
The issue is that sexual violence gets mixed in with
general family violence data and so without that being separated,
(01:28):
we can't really see what's actually going on. But the
minimal research we do have indicates there is a higher
prevalence rate of sexual dance in those areas.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Given that we have that information there, as you say,
even though it's I guess fairly at a starting point
rather than an endpoint, do you have any idea as
to why that's the case.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
We need to do more research on that, certainly. But
there is issues in rural and regional areas that exacerbate
the problem, and that's issues like social and geographic itel
close knit communities, privacy challenges, those sorts of things that
make it difficult for women to report sexual violence and
(02:09):
get the care that they actually need. So greater research
around the topic and addressing the issues around gender in
the qualities.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Is there a difference in the way people in the
country think to the way city people think.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
We have certainly more traditional gender norms in rural and
regional areas, And what I mean by that is that
men are in roles that traditionally men play, and women
are in those traditional women's roles, and that makes it
more difficult for women to be able to report their experiences,
(02:47):
and that traditional gender norms in those areas really reinforce
the patriarchal values that perpetuate male dominance.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
What can we do to tackle this problem?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Look, I think specialist sexual violence services are underfunded and
often really light on the ground in regional and rural areas,
and so for them to be able to address this issue,
they need to have greater funding. There needs to be
more services out in those areas. And I think what's
happening is there's greater awareness of sexual violence in our community.
(03:21):
Women may feel more comfortable in reporting it potentially, but
then what do we actually do it to care for
these not just women but victim survivors in general sexual
violence that need that informed care and we just don't
have that in rule and regional area.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Yeah, I guess part of the problem is that some
of these places are so far flung that you know,
it's not just staffing but also resources like non human resources.
You just can't have someone or something in every single
town in the country.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
That's right, and so what we also need to do
is improve general health services, primary care, etc. For women
and other survivors of sexual violence to receive appropriate trauma
and won't care. We are disadvantaged in rural areas and
while there are many advantages of living in regional and
rural areas, health is a problem, that's for sure. There's
(04:13):
great inequity between metro people and us living out in
rural regional areas.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
And of course with this research and the higher number
of women speaking up in a modern world, the state
is looking to stop the scourge in its tracks, with
a Royal commission now wrapping up. Our reporter Jordan Curtis
spoke to Commissioner Natasha stuntd Spoyer ahead of her report
and recommendations being handed down in just a matter of days.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
People who have had experience of the skourge that is domestic,
family and sexual violence, and that includes organizations agencies that
work on this issue. So whether that's Uniting Country essay
or police who I've been meeting with in port theory,
but hearing also people who've had lived experience so that
I can understand what we can recommend to try and
(05:00):
eliminate the scourge that is domestic and family violence and
sexual violence in our state.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Obviously, it's a very hard thing to open up about
lived experience as well. The consequences of this kind of
violence does have lasting impact on people.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
I'm really interested in what people feel our solutions. You're right,
it does have a long impact. So they do say
that trauma has a long tail, and that includes for
a range of people from a range of different backgrounds,
and for me, that includes understanding the specific challenges in
the regions, talking to people with lived experience, and doing
that in a way that is healthy, ethical and non traumatic.
(05:35):
We're about making positive change, dealing with the challenges that exist,
and hopefully a royal commission that helps to reduce and
one day prevent this violence.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
And I guess it is important to not just have
these conversations people living in metro areas, but just to
sheddle out on how prevalent it can be in regional
locations too.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Absolutely. I mean there's not a one size fits all,
you know, there are different needs in different places and
we have to take that into a count and as
you will know and your listeners will know better than
I do. Often the regions come up short because they
don't get the same support that the metropolitan areas sometimes get,
whether that's in this space or in others. Obviously, there's
(06:13):
a lot of evidence and research out there with which
we're already familiar, but this is an opportunity to comb
through some of that work that's been done and try
and understand where are their gaps, where are their challenges,
and most importantly, where are the solutions.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
We'll have more coming up after the break. Welcome back
as we discuss what's being done to shed a light
on sexual violence in regional and rural areas. In response
to disturbing national statistics and concerning misconceptions about consent, the
(06:47):
state government has launched a ten week social media campaign
designed to educate and power and protect young people by
promoting messages of respect, consent and healthy relationships across various platforms.
Time two million dollars has been invested to strengthen several
established hubs, ensuring women and families facing crisis have access
(07:07):
to the support they need. With the findings of the
Royal Commission into Domestic Family and Sexual Violence, due early
next month. This is a timely and urgent conversation. As such,
I spoke to Minister for Women, Katrine Hillyard about what's
underway and what she's expecting moving forward.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
I am deeply concerned about the scourge of sexual violence
and utterly determined, as is our entire government, that on
receipt of the Royal Commission, that we absolutely harness the
once in a generation opportunity that comes with those findings
to advance change that helps us prevent and eradicate the
(07:47):
horror of domestic family and sexual violence.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Yea, so how's the government preparing for these findings whatever
they may be.
Speaker 6 (07:54):
There are a range of ways, a range of mechanisms
that we've been using to work on this scourg One
of the things I wanted to mention is that ten
regional sexual violence hubs are now provided with a paid worker.
They've been a really important source of early support for
(08:15):
women experiencing violence. So that's been really important to bring
women together to provide them with that early support, but
also for those hubs to play a role in regional
communities raising awareness. The other thing, the Royal Commissioner has
visited regions as part of her consulting with community about
(08:37):
what needs to change. And I know that those forums
were really well attended across Wayala, Port Piri, Port Agusta,
Kangaro Islands, Mount Gambia, Port Lincoln, Sojuna, the ap Wylands,
Kouba pet to make sure that women communities across regions
(08:57):
had to say had a voice in the Royal Commission.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, definitely. And we heard from Natasha Stott Dispoya just before,
who is of course handling the Royal Commission, and yeah,
she's under the pump at the moment, very much got
her nose to the paper and not sleeping and all
sorts I'm hearing. So she's getting this done for us all.
But in the meantime, though, we've recently had word from
(09:22):
the government from yourself about two million dollars over the
next two years to support a few of our hubs
in both the North and the South. How will that
funding be used and is there similar services or similar
funding going to other regions as well in future.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
That's a really great question. So two million dollars continue
and to expand our hubs that are located in the
outer Northern and in the outer Southern suburbs. I know
that in the one in the southern suburbs. I was
with them last week and they talked about being able
to now extend their supports right throughout the Furio. Also,
(09:57):
the really important things about both so ten regional hubs
in the Northern and Southern hubs is that they are
places where women can access support really early, close to home.
The sooner women can access advice referrals. Have that early support,
(10:17):
they are less likely to slip through the cracks and
not get the support that they need, So that investment
is incredibly important. In each of those hubs, they provide
things like counseling, different therapeutic programs, activities, referrals for legal services,
(10:38):
housing and a range of other supports that are needed.
They are really about meeting women where they are at.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
What does the government think about why there has been
a spike in this sort of behavior and this sort
of violence. We are talking as well about there being
a social media campaign, so that's obviously being targeted at
probably our younger members of the community. Yeah, is that
sort of where you think it all needs to start
from our youngest residents?
Speaker 6 (11:04):
What is both a guess pleasing but deeply worrying is
that we are having more women report their experiences of
sexual violence, so we are pleased that we are receiving reports.
There was a time not that long ago where this
sort of violence wasn't actually spoken about. It often happened
(11:26):
behind closed doors, So we want to be seeing women
coming forward and reporting. The second part of your question,
in relation to our social media push, there is a
rise of sexual violence toward women and young people, and
it's having a long lasting impact on wellbeing and relationships.
(11:49):
It's really concerning that recent our watch where you search
highlighted just how prevalent misconceptions about what constitutes sexual violence
are amongst younger people. We want young people to know
really clearly that sexual violence isn't always physical. It can
manifest in a whole lot of other insidious ways, like
(12:10):
taking or sharing an intimate photo of someone without their permission,
or intimidating someone online. We want young people to know
that every form of sexual violence is unacceptable. Images and
videos on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, x LinkedIn
(12:33):
to really boost awareness around the various forms of sexual violence.
So the sorts of images that people will see will
be images that speak to really developing an understanding of
what consent is and what it isn't, what sexual violence
(12:54):
is and isn't. We really want everybody to also be
generating those conversations.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
And I can imagine then if there's videos and pictures,
it could be quite confronting for those who have lived this.
Any message for those people, particularly ahead of the report
being handed down, survivors or victims themselves.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
If anybody needs support, whether they're experiencing sexual violence, whether
they have worries, questions, concerns, confidential information, counseling and support
is available twenty four to seven through one eight hundred,
respect Every single one of those images that are displayed
(13:34):
have contact details to seek support, which is really important
in terms of anybody feeling confronted or having particular realizations
through seeing those images. So I really do encourage people
to seek support should they need it.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
I guess we'll wait for the Royal Commission report then
to be handed down just a few weeks time, and
everyone's waiting eagerly, I'm sure to see what sort of
recommendations will be made.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
As I said, the Royal Commission presents us with a
once in a generation opportunity to absolutely drive change and
our government is determined to seize that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Sexual violence in regional South Australia is a complex issue,
but one we must continue to confront with honesty and
action and just to reiterate the words of the Minister
there if you or someone you know needs help, remember
support is available twenty four to seven through one eight
hundred respect. That's it for this week, don't forget. You
can hear iHeart Essay in the iHeart app or wherever
(14:34):
you get your podcasts. I'm Jackie Limb. Join us again
next week for more of the stories you want to hear.
I Heart Essay, the Voice of South Australia
Speaker 4 (14:44):
My Heart Essay
My Heart.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hi, I'm Jackie Lymb with iHeart Essay. This week we're
looking into an issue that's often under reported but deeply felt.
We're turning our attention to sexual violence in regional South Australia.
While sexual violence affects people everywhere, the impact in regional
and rural areas can be especially devastating, made worse by
limited access to support services, greater social stigma, and fewer
(00:25):
opportunities for education around consent, healthy relationships and reporting options.
Recent government initiatives, including new funding for prevention and recovery hubs,
aim to address these gaps, but with disturbing statistics continuing
to emerge, it's clear that much more work needs to
be done, not just in the metro centers, but in
towns and communities across the state. So today we're asking
(00:47):
what does sexual violence look like in Regional South Australia,
Where can survivors turn to for help and how can
communities take action to stop violence before it starts. Our
reporter Rob McLennan spoke to Latrobian diversity researcher Professor Lisa
Hooker on the issue and discover the stark and scary
reality for our regions.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
We have a small amount of research in Australia that
indicates if there is a higher prevalence rate in rural
and regional areas, but we certainly need more information. An
The issue is that sexual violence gets mixed in with
general family violence data and so without that being separated,
(01:28):
we can't really see what's actually going on. But the
minimal research we do have indicates there is a higher
prevalence rate of sexual dance in those areas.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Given that we have that information there, as you say,
even though it's I guess fairly at a starting point
rather than an endpoint, do you have any idea as
to why that's the case.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
We need to do more research on that, certainly. But
there is issues in rural and regional areas that exacerbate
the problem, and that's issues like social and geographic itel
close knit communities, privacy challenges, those sorts of things that
make it difficult for women to report sexual violence and
(02:09):
get the care that they actually need. So greater research
around the topic and addressing the issues around gender in
the qualities.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Is there a difference in the way people in the
country think to the way city people think.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
We have certainly more traditional gender norms in rural and
regional areas, And what I mean by that is that
men are in roles that traditionally men play, and women
are in those traditional women's roles, and that makes it
more difficult for women to be able to report their experiences,
(02:47):
and that traditional gender norms in those areas really reinforce
the patriarchal values that perpetuate male dominance.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
What can we do to tackle this problem?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Look, I think specialist sexual violence services are underfunded and
often really light on the ground in regional and rural areas,
and so for them to be able to address this issue,
they need to have greater funding. There needs to be
more services out in those areas. And I think what's
happening is there's greater awareness of sexual violence in our community.
(03:21):
Women may feel more comfortable in reporting it potentially, but
then what do we actually do it to care for
these not just women but victim survivors in general sexual
violence that need that informed care and we just don't
have that in rule and regional area.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Yeah, I guess part of the problem is that some
of these places are so far flung that you know,
it's not just staffing but also resources like non human resources.
You just can't have someone or something in every single
town in the country.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
That's right, and so what we also need to do
is improve general health services, primary care, etc. For women
and other survivors of sexual violence to receive appropriate trauma
and won't care. We are disadvantaged in rural areas and
while there are many advantages of living in regional and
rural areas, health is a problem, that's for sure. There's
(04:13):
great inequity between metro people and us living out in
rural regional areas.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
And of course with this research and the higher number
of women speaking up in a modern world, the state
is looking to stop the scourge in its tracks, with
a Royal commission now wrapping up. Our reporter Jordan Curtis
spoke to Commissioner Natasha stuntd Spoyer ahead of her report
and recommendations being handed down in just a matter of days.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
People who have had experience of the skourge that is domestic,
family and sexual violence, and that includes organizations agencies that
work on this issue. So whether that's Uniting Country essay
or police who I've been meeting with in port theory,
but hearing also people who've had lived experience so that
I can understand what we can recommend to try and
(05:00):
eliminate the scourge that is domestic and family violence and
sexual violence in our state.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Obviously, it's a very hard thing to open up about
lived experience as well. The consequences of this kind of
violence does have lasting impact on people.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
I'm really interested in what people feel our solutions. You're right,
it does have a long impact. So they do say
that trauma has a long tail, and that includes for
a range of people from a range of different backgrounds,
and for me, that includes understanding the specific challenges in
the regions, talking to people with lived experience, and doing
that in a way that is healthy, ethical and non traumatic.
(05:35):
We're about making positive change, dealing with the challenges that exist,
and hopefully a royal commission that helps to reduce and
one day prevent this violence.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
And I guess it is important to not just have
these conversations people living in metro areas, but just to
sheddle out on how prevalent it can be in regional
locations too.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Absolutely. I mean there's not a one size fits all,
you know, there are different needs in different places and
we have to take that into a count and as
you will know and your listeners will know better than
I do. Often the regions come up short because they
don't get the same support that the metropolitan areas sometimes get,
whether that's in this space or in others. Obviously, there's
(06:13):
a lot of evidence and research out there with which
we're already familiar, but this is an opportunity to comb
through some of that work that's been done and try
and understand where are their gaps, where are their challenges,
and most importantly, where are the solutions.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
We'll have more coming up after the break. Welcome back
as we discuss what's being done to shed a light
on sexual violence in regional and rural areas. In response
to disturbing national statistics and concerning misconceptions about consent, the
(06:47):
state government has launched a ten week social media campaign
designed to educate and power and protect young people by
promoting messages of respect, consent and healthy relationships across various platforms.
Time two million dollars has been invested to strengthen several
established hubs, ensuring women and families facing crisis have access
(07:07):
to the support they need. With the findings of the
Royal Commission into Domestic Family and Sexual Violence, due early
next month. This is a timely and urgent conversation. As such,
I spoke to Minister for Women, Katrine Hillyard about what's
underway and what she's expecting moving forward.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
I am deeply concerned about the scourge of sexual violence
and utterly determined, as is our entire government, that on
receipt of the Royal Commission, that we absolutely harness the
once in a generation opportunity that comes with those findings
to advance change that helps us prevent and eradicate the
(07:47):
horror of domestic family and sexual violence.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Yea, so how's the government preparing for these findings whatever
they may be.
Speaker 6 (07:54):
There are a range of ways, a range of mechanisms
that we've been using to work on this scourg One
of the things I wanted to mention is that ten
regional sexual violence hubs are now provided with a paid worker.
They've been a really important source of early support for
(08:15):
women experiencing violence. So that's been really important to bring
women together to provide them with that early support, but
also for those hubs to play a role in regional
communities raising awareness. The other thing, the Royal Commissioner has
visited regions as part of her consulting with community about
(08:37):
what needs to change. And I know that those forums
were really well attended across Wayala, Port Piri, Port Agusta,
Kangaro Islands, Mount Gambia, Port Lincoln, Sojuna, the ap Wylands,
Kouba pet to make sure that women communities across regions
(08:57):
had to say had a voice in the Royal Commission.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, definitely. And we heard from Natasha Stott Dispoya just before,
who is of course handling the Royal Commission, and yeah,
she's under the pump at the moment, very much got
her nose to the paper and not sleeping and all
sorts I'm hearing. So she's getting this done for us all.
But in the meantime, though, we've recently had word from
(09:22):
the government from yourself about two million dollars over the
next two years to support a few of our hubs
in both the North and the South. How will that
funding be used and is there similar services or similar
funding going to other regions as well in future.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
That's a really great question. So two million dollars continue
and to expand our hubs that are located in the
outer Northern and in the outer Southern suburbs. I know
that in the one in the southern suburbs. I was
with them last week and they talked about being able
to now extend their supports right throughout the Furio. Also,
(09:57):
the really important things about both so ten regional hubs
in the Northern and Southern hubs is that they are
places where women can access support really early, close to home.
The sooner women can access advice referrals. Have that early support,
(10:17):
they are less likely to slip through the cracks and
not get the support that they need, So that investment
is incredibly important. In each of those hubs, they provide
things like counseling, different therapeutic programs, activities, referrals for legal services,
(10:38):
housing and a range of other supports that are needed.
They are really about meeting women where they are at.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
What does the government think about why there has been
a spike in this sort of behavior and this sort
of violence. We are talking as well about there being
a social media campaign, so that's obviously being targeted at
probably our younger members of the community. Yeah, is that
sort of where you think it all needs to start
from our youngest residents?
Speaker 6 (11:04):
What is both a guess pleasing but deeply worrying is
that we are having more women report their experiences of
sexual violence, so we are pleased that we are receiving reports.
There was a time not that long ago where this
sort of violence wasn't actually spoken about. It often happened
(11:26):
behind closed doors, So we want to be seeing women
coming forward and reporting. The second part of your question,
in relation to our social media push, there is a
rise of sexual violence toward women and young people, and
it's having a long lasting impact on wellbeing and relationships.
(11:49):
It's really concerning that recent our watch where you search
highlighted just how prevalent misconceptions about what constitutes sexual violence
are amongst younger people. We want young people to know
really clearly that sexual violence isn't always physical. It can
manifest in a whole lot of other insidious ways, like
(12:10):
taking or sharing an intimate photo of someone without their permission,
or intimidating someone online. We want young people to know
that every form of sexual violence is unacceptable. Images and
videos on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, x LinkedIn
(12:33):
to really boost awareness around the various forms of sexual violence.
So the sorts of images that people will see will
be images that speak to really developing an understanding of
what consent is and what it isn't, what sexual violence
(12:54):
is and isn't. We really want everybody to also be
generating those conversations.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
And I can imagine then if there's videos and pictures,
it could be quite confronting for those who have lived this.
Any message for those people, particularly ahead of the report
being handed down, survivors or victims themselves.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
If anybody needs support, whether they're experiencing sexual violence, whether
they have worries, questions, concerns, confidential information, counseling and support
is available twenty four to seven through one eight hundred,
respect Every single one of those images that are displayed
(13:34):
have contact details to seek support, which is really important
in terms of anybody feeling confronted or having particular realizations
through seeing those images. So I really do encourage people
to seek support should they need it.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
I guess we'll wait for the Royal Commission report then
to be handed down just a few weeks time, and
everyone's waiting eagerly, I'm sure to see what sort of
recommendations will be made.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
As I said, the Royal Commission presents us with a
once in a generation opportunity to absolutely drive change and
our government is determined to seize that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Sexual violence in regional South Australia is a complex issue,
but one we must continue to confront with honesty and
action and just to reiterate the words of the Minister
there if you or someone you know needs help, remember
support is available twenty four to seven through one eight
hundred respect. That's it for this week, don't forget. You
can hear iHeart Essay in the iHeart app or wherever
(14:34):
you get your podcasts. I'm Jackie Limb. Join us again
next week for more of the stories you want to hear.
I Heart Essay, the Voice of South Australia
Speaker 4 (14:44):
My Heart Essay
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