Key facts
- Shannon Stokes pursued legal action for sexual assault and domestic violence for over two years.
- Stokes' former boyfriend received a five-year prison sentence after being convicted on nine charges.
- New South Wales is launching a Sexual Assault Survivors’ Legal Service.
- The service will offer free legal support for sexual assault matters.
- The initiative is part of a $6.2 million package to strengthen sexual violence justice responses.
New South Wales has launched a new legal service aimed at supporting sexual assault survivors through the complexities of the justice system, a process that can be deeply traumatizing. The initiative, called the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Legal Service, will be operated by Legal Aid NSW and is funded by a $1.74 million expansion as part of a broader $6.2 million state government package.
Shannon Stokes, a 28-year-old from New South Wales, shared her experience of navigating the legal system for two years and 11 days to prosecute her former boyfriend for sexual assault and domestic violence offenses. She described feeling a "sense of doom" and isolation, compounded by inadequate legal assistance and a lack of personalized support. Stokes recalled receiving pamphlets focused on court appearance rather than legal guidance, making her feel like "a number in the system rather than a person who has actually been victimised by violence."
Advocates like Sarah Rosenberg, executive director of the victim-led network With You We Can, have long highlighted the challenges survivors face in the adversarial justice system, which can lead to re-traumatization. The new service aims to address this by providing free legal support, including advice on criminal processes, survivors' rights during investigations and prosecutions, and assistance with victims' compensation claims. Robyn Gilbert, the senior solicitor leading the service, stated its purpose is to restore "autonomy and choice" to survivors, ensuring they are better informed about their rights and role in the legal process. The service is open to all callers across the state who have experienced sexual assault.