The Northern Territory has a relatively young population, spread across a large jurisdiction, with very high rates of sexual crimes and a disproportionate representation of Aboriginal youth as both victims and offenders. The project adopted an age-inclusive and social services-inclusive approach, evaluating agencies specialising in youth sexual assault services in partnership with the many intersecting social services accessed by victims of all ages. Research methods included 23 personal interviews, conducted with service providers, experts and victims/survivors, rural and remote fieldwork, focus groups with Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre against Rape, quarterly youth forums, collaboration with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and literature reviews. The report is structured thus: Part I focuses on the lack of prevention services, especially relationship education programs for young people and the scarcity of diversion and rehabilitation programs for (potential) juvenile sexual offenders; Part II recommends the reform of NT Government practices in resource allocation and in enabling networking and collaboration in the sexual assault service sector; Part III emphasises the need for the development of Child Impact Analyses and Child Impact Statements; Part IV recounts the experiences of victims’ experiences in the judicial system, and recommends the building of an interview annex at the Peter McCauley Police Centre and improving victims’ facilities in the Courts of the Northern Territory.

The Link to this report is no longer available. A copy is held at the JV Barry library and enquiries can be made to Frontdesk@aic.gov.au.