Resources

For Families & Professionals

Why Feminism is Fundamental in Sexual Assault Services

Juno’s Circle is strongly underpinned by a feminist philosophy and the acknowledgement that sexual assault is a gendered crime.  We accept that while perpetrators of sexual violence are a diverse group of people ranging from different cultures, socioeconomic status, educational level, occupancies, family dynamics etc., they overwhelmingly tend to be male.  This is not the same as saying we do not recognise that females or even children can also commit serious sexual assault, nor that this would have any less of an impact on the victim/survivor.  We acknowledge that perpetrators of sexual violence are more likely to be male, however this does not mean that most men are themselves perpetrators.  There are many men who have never, and would never, commit sexual assault.  We emphasise the role of sex and gender to highlight the power imbalance that exists in our society.  We do know that sexual assault is not actually about sexual lust or uncontrollable sexual urges, but in fact about the perpetrator’s need for power and control.  In referencing patriarchy we are acknowledging that men in general tend to hold more positions of power and have the most influence, authority, and privilege than other social groups.  Of course this should not be interpreted to mean every single man, as that would fail to recognise the individual hardships and struggles that some men do face.

 

Laurenza Buglisi, founder and managing director of Juno's Circle, at Dana Allied Health

Men Hold Power and Privilege

Traditionally the response to sexual violence would be a request (from police, parents, society) for the women involved to somehow take responsibility for their own sexual assault or even murder.  Statements warning women of the dangers of being out late at night, of being intoxicated, of dressing a certain way, are all designed to place the responsibility of sexual assault and murder solely on women.  However, the only people who are directly responsible for the sexual assault or murder of these women are the actual people who committed the sexual assault or who killed them.  All men (even those who do not use violence- perhaps especially these men) have a very important role in our society to play in reducing violence against women and children.  This is about recognising the positions of power and privilege that men as a social group hold and using them in an influential way to discourage not just direct violence towards women but challenging values and attitudes that underpin this violence.  An example would be encouraging more men to speak out against tolerance for rape jokes or attitudes around seeing women as sex objects devoid of thoughts, emotions and human rights.

Women and Children are Most Vulnerable to Harm

While anyone can be a victim/survivor of sexual assault, it is overwhelmingly more likely to be women and children.  Since sexual assault is about power and control, it is not surprising that the people who tend to perpetrate sexual violence (men) are from the social group with the most power and those who tend to be victims are people who have the least amount of power.  This is particularly true about children, who rely on adults for almost everything.  Keeping in mind that adult men are the group in society who are least likely to be targeted by sexual violence, it is not unreasonable to acknowledge that women live with the daily threat (whether direct or not) of violence that just simply is not present for most men.  The perpetrators of sexual violence are not targeting large groups of men in the way they target women.   It is crucial that feminism be embraced when providing a sexual assault service or training, as sexual violence cannot be fully understood in the absence of a feminist lens.

Useful Resources

For Families & Professionals

In this section you will find access to written material published by external agencies on topics relevant to childhood sexual assault.  This information may be useful to families, carers, professionals, and university students wishing to learn more about what sexual assault is and how to support those who have been impacted by this interpersonal crime.  You can also subscribe to our mailing list and be the first to receive updates about our services.

Disclaimer

Juno’s Circle provides a wide range of free written material for both families and organisation to access on its website.  These publications were not produced by Juno’s Circle and as such each document indicates the organisation responsible for publication.  All paid video training material accessible online remains the intellectual property of Juno’s Circle and as such, no permission is given for its attribution, reproduction, or distribution in any form.

Resources for Families

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10 BODY SAFETY RULES

Published By: Educate2Empower
Publish Date: Not Specified

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A FACT SHEET ON SEXUAL GROOMING

Published By: Network of Community Activities
Publish Date: Not Specified

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‘A LOT OF IT IS ACTUALLY JUST ABUSE’ – YOUNG PEOPLE AND PORNOGRAPHY (FACT SHEET)

Published By: Children’s Commissioner
Publish Date: January 2023

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AGE APPROPRIATE SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Published By: South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence (SECASA)
Publish Date: November 2017

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BREASTFEEDING AFTER CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Published By: South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence (SECASA)
Publish Date: May 2013

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CHILD SAFETY: BABYSITTING CHECKLIST

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: Not Specified

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FACT SHEET: CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT

Published By: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Publish Date: Not Specified

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FACT SHEET: COMMON REACTIONS AND FEELINGS

Published By: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Publish Date: Not Specified

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FACT SHEET: HARMFUL BEHAVIOURS IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Published By: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Publish Date: Not Specified

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FACT SHEET: UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL ASSAULT

Published By: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Publish Date: Not Specified

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FLASHBACK PROTOCOL

Published By: The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment
Publish Date: 2000

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GROOMING AND PREDATORY BEHAVIOUR

Published By: South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence (SECASA)
Publish Date: April 2014

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HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Published By: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Publish Date: Not Specified

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INDICATORS OF CHILD ABUSE

Published By: South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault SECASA
Publish Date:
May 2013

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LIVING WELL: A GUIDE FOR MEN

Published By: Living Well
Publish Date: Not Specified

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MY BODY SAFETY RULES

Published By: Educate2Empower
Publish Date: Not Specified

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MY EARLY WARNING SIGNS

Published By: Educate2Empower
Publish Date: Not Specified

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PARENTING A BABY WHO HAS EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE (BIRTH TO 18 MONTHS)

Published By: Women’s Health West & Berry Street
Publish Date: Not Specified

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PARENTING A TODDLER WHO HAS EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE (18 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS)

Published By: Women’s Health West & Berry Street
Publish Date: Not Specified

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PARENTING A PRESCHOOLER WHO HAS EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE (3 TO 5 YEARS)

Published By: Women’s Health West & Berry Street
Publish Date: Not Specified

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PARENTING A PRIMARY SCHOOLER WHO HAS EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE (5 TO 12 YEARS)

Published By: Women’s Health West & Berry Street
Publish Date: Not Specified

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PARENTING A TEENAGER WHO HAS EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE (13 TO 18 YEARS)

Published By: Women’s Health West & Berry Street
Publish Date: Not Specified

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PREGNANCY TO PARENTING

Published By: The Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) House
Publish Date:
September 2008

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PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE

Published By: Educate2Empower
Publish Date: Not Specified

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SHARING THE UN-SHAREABLE

Published By: Education Centre Against Violence (NSW Health)
Publish Date: 2011

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UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL ASSAULT

Published By: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Publish Date: Not Specified

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TIP SHEET: OLDER CHILDREN HOME ALONE

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: Not Specified

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TIP SHEET: OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING AFTER YOUR CHILD – BABYSITTERS

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: Not Specified

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TIP SHEET: TEACH YOUR CHILD HOW TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: Not Specified

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TIP SHEET: WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CHILD SAFE ORGANISATION

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: Not Specified

Laurenza Buglisi with child client using play during the counselling session

It is my sincerest hope that Juno’s Circle can provide a space for families, communities, and organisations to facilitate difficult discussions about the fundamental right of all children to a safe childhood free from sexual violence.

LAURENZA BUGLISI
Founder & Managing Director

Resources for Professionals

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‘A LOT OF IT IS ACTUALLY JUST ABUSE’ – YOUNG PEOPLE AND PORNOGRAPHY (REPORT)

Published By: Children’s Commissioner
Publish Date:January 2023

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BETRAYAL OF TRUST: FACTSHEET

Published By:State Government Victoria
Publish Date: 2014

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COMPLEMENTARY GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR CLINICAL TREATMENT OF COMPLEX TRAUMA

Published By: Blue Knot Foundation
Publish Date:
2019

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COMMUNICATING WITH CHILDREN

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: February 2022

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CREATING A CHILD SAFETY AND WELLBEING POLICY

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: Not Specified

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ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTION: GUIDELINES FOR PRACTITIONERS

Published By: Australian Institute for Family Studies
Publish Date: 2016

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FINAL REPORT: CHILDREN WITH HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS

Published By:Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
Publish Date: 2017

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FIRST COMMONWEALTH ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2021-2024

Published By: Commonwealth of Australia
Publish Date:
2021

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GUIDANCE FOR ORGANISATIONS: INVESTIGATING A REPORTABLE CONDUCT ALLEGATION 

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: July 2017

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GUIDELINES FOR TRAUMA INFORMED FAMILY SENSITIVE PRACTICE IN ADULT HEALTH SERVICES

Published By: The Bouverie Centre
Publish Date:
January 2013

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INDICATORS OF CHILD ABUSE

Published By: South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault SECASA
Publish Date:
May 2013

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IT HAPPENED TO ME WOMEN TALK ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Published By: Human Services
Publish Date:
2013

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IT HAPPENED TO US MEN TALK ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Published By: Human Services
Publish Date: 
2013

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NATIONAL STRATEGY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2021-2030

Published By: Commonwealth of Australia
Publish Date:
September 2021

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PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR CLINICAL TREATMENT OF COMPLEX TRAUMA

Published By: Blue Knot Foundation 
Publish Date: 
2019

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PRACTICE GUIDE: RESPONDING TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUT-OF-HOME CARE WHO ENGAGE IN HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR 

Published By: Australian Childhood Foundation
Publish Date: December 2020

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PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CHOOSING, SUPERVISING AND DEVELOPING SUITABLE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: Not Specified

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PREGNANCY TO PARENTING

Published By: The Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) House
Publish Date:
September 2008

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SAFE & SUPPORTED: THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPORTING AUSTRALIA’S CHILDREN

Published By: Commonwealth of Australia
Publish Date: 2021

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SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK

Published By: Australian Catholic University
Publish Date: Not Specified

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SEXUAL ASSAULT IN AUSTRALIA

Published By: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Publish Date:
August 2020

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SIGNS AND INDICATORS

Published By: Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse
Publish Date: November 2021

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STANDARDS OF PRACTICE MANUAL FOR SERVICES AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE – THIRD EDITION

Published By: National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV)
Publish Date:
2021

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STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

Published By: CASA Forum (Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault)
Publish Date:
March 2014

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STEPS TO DEVELOP OR UPDATE YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT

Published By: Commission for Children and Young People
Publish Date: 2020

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TRAUMA EXPRESSION AND CONNECTION ASSESSMENT

Published By: Australian Childhood Foundation
Publish Date: 
2022

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Informative Websites for Families & Professionals

Ackerman Institute for the Family

Address: https://www.ackerman.org/research/children-and-relational-trauma

Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network

Address: https://earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au/resource-centre/abuse-neglect-violence

Australian Childhood Foundation

Address: https://www.childhood.org.au

Australian Institute of Criminology

Address: https://www.aic.gov.au

Australian Institute of Family Studies

Address: https://aifs.gov.au

Australian & New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse (ANZATSA)

Address: https://www.anzatsa.org

Ballarat Men’s Mental Health

Address: https://ballaratmmh.com.au/

Blue Knot Foundation

Address: https://blueknot.org.au

Bravehearts

Address: https://bravehearts.org.au

Canadian Centre for Child Protection

Address: https://protectchildren.ca/en

Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse

Address: http://www.csacentre.org.uk

Child Sexual Abuse in Canada

Address: https://www.sexassault.ca/childabuse.htm

Child Trauma Academy

Address: https://www.childtrauma.org

Child Wise

Address: https://www.childwise.org.au

The Dulwich Centre

Address: https://dulwichcentre.com.au

eSafety Commissioner (Parents)

Address: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Healing Foundation

Address: https://healingfoundation.org.au

Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Assault

Address: https://helpingsurvivors.org/grooming-warning-signs/

In Good Faith Foundation

Address: https://igff.org.au

Knowmore

Address: https://knowmore.org.au/

Lollipop Takedown (Canadian Centre for Child Protection)

Address: https://www.lollipoptakedown.ca

LOUD Fence

Address: https://www.loudfence.org.au/

Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors

Address: https://www.macsas.org.uk

National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse

Address: https://www.ncacsa.org.au/

National Survivors’ Day

Address: https://www.nationalsurvivorsday.org.au/

Phoenix Australia

Address: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org

Parenting Safe Children

Address: https://parentingsafechildren.com

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Address: https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

Sexual Assault Services Victoria

Address: https://www.sasvic.org.au

SNAP Network

Address: https://www.snapnetwork.org

Trauma Research Foundation

Address: https://traumaresearchfoundation.org

Connect with Juno’s Circle

Together we can tackle the Shame and Stigma of Childhood Sexual Assault.  Let’s start a conversation today.

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