Fifty years ago today, a group of volunteers gathered in a single room at the Sydney Women’s Liberation House in Glebe, to form the Sydney Rape Crisis Centre.
What started as a small volunteers-based initiative has grown into Full Stop Australia, a leading organisation working to end domestic violence and sexual assault in Australia.
Today, Full Stop Australia commemorates its 50th birthday, and while significant progress has been made, CEO Karen Bevan said there are still ongoing and emerging challenges faced by victim-survivors.
“Whilst we take a moment to acknowledge the triumphs over the years, we are quick to call for ongoing reform of all systems, so that we can put a full stop to sexual violence once and for all,” Bevan said.
In 1974, the Sydney Rape Crisis Centre was the first of its kind in Australia. Operating at a time where marital rape was legal, workplace sexual harassment and sexism was condoned, and hospitals were unable or unwilling to support victim-survivors, the volunteers at the organisation would drive all over Sydney, picking up women who had suffered abuse. They would then take them to the Sydney Women’s Liberation House in Glebe to offer counselling and medical assistance.
The organisation rebranded as the NSW Rape Crisis in 1997, the Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia in 2013, before becoming what it is known as today: Full Stop Australia. The organisation no offers more than 15,000 trauma-specialist counselling sessions every year.
Besides name changes, a lot of progress has been made in the last 50 years: notably, the Respect@Work inquiry, some states and territories adopting affirmative consent legislation, coercive control legislation, and more research from think tanks and organisations into the impacts of family, domestic and sexual violence.
However, there is still a lot of work to be done: according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 35,138 reported sexual assaults in 2023. This reflects a 31-year high, and experts say the number is likely much higher due to underreporting.
The NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said the NSW government wll continue working with Full Stop Australia, especially as the government rolls out its Primary Prevention Strategy to stop violence before it starts.
“Full Stop Australia has played a significant role in making sure victim-survivors receive the help they need when they need it through its 24/7 helplines,” Minister Harrison said.
“Its advocacy ensures victim-survivors’ voices are heard, and through its training, builds organisations’ capability to respond to sexual violence.”
* Featured image: CEO of Full Stop Australia Karen Bevan speaking at the Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre AGM. Credit: Supplied
Full Stop Australia provides free 24/7 telephone and online counselling. If you have experienced violence or abuse we are here to help you. Our counsellors are available on 1800 FULL STOP (1800 385 578).
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au .
Feeling worried or no good? Connect with 13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit www.13yarn.org.au. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.
Kids Helpline (1800 551 800) is a free, confidential online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.