Foundations for Sexual Violence Work (Mackay)

The workshop provides participants with foundational level understanding of sexual violence in Australia. This knowledge will be helpful for anyone interested in sexual violence work, new to sexual violence work or who interacts with sexual violence victim-survivors or perpetrators in their everyday work.

This program has been developed with insights from the sexual violence, women’s health and wellbeing and domestic and family violence sector in Queensland. We invite you to join us to increase your understanding and knowledge in the following areas:

Dynamics of sexual violence (delivered via video pre-workshop)
Gain understanding what sexual violence is.

• Terminology – types of sexual violence
• Sexual violence in Australia and Queensland
• Sexual violence law – introduction
• Who are the victim-survivors of sexual violence
• Who are perpetrators of sexual violence
• Gendered violence

Working with victim-survivors of sexual violence, and the perpetrators of sexual violence
Know what do if a woman is experiencing sexual violence.

• Providing a safe space
• Person-centred responses
• Intersectionality
• Managing an immediate risk
• Specialist advice and referrals
• Professional boundaries, caring for yourself, and self-care plans

Responses to sexual violence
This module brings together modules 1 & 2 to discuss the sexual violence sector.

• Who is responding to sexual violence – understanding the broader system
• Specialised trauma informed support
• Prevention, intervention, accountability, healing
• Changes in law, how we use it

Event details

Date: Friday, 07 February 2025
Time: 9:30am - 4:00pm (AEST - Queensland Time)
Location: Ocean International Hotel, 1 Bridge Road, Mackay, QLD, 4740

Who should attend

This event is suitable for new and existing workers in the sexual violence women’s health and well-being and domestic and family violence sector.

About the facilitator

KENDRA RUSSELL (she/her)

Kendra is a social worker currently living in Naarm/Melbourne with 6+ years experience working in sexual & gender-based violence as a counsellor, group-worker and community educator. She is currently working as a counsellor/advocate and a sessional academic.

Kendra is also completing her PhD in Criminology at the University of Melbourne. Her academic work examines the relationships between feminist sexual assault counselling frameworks, somatic healing and spirituality.

Kendra has a passion for working at intersections of feminism, trauma, and somatic healing - blending therapeutic practice with academic rigour and personal exploration in service of collective liberation. She is committed to offering experiential training that emphasises learning through self-experience.

For more information on her work please visit https://kendra-sulcs.com/.

SUSAN STARK (she/her)

Susan is a passionate and warm practitioner and facilitator, who weaves together over three decades of experience working in community organizations and supporting survivors of trauma and sexual violence.   Susan currently works in private practice in Meanjin (Brisbane) as a Sexlogical Bodyworker, Somatic Sex Coach, Embodiment Counsellor and Group Facilitator.   She has a passion for supporting survivors to reclaim a felt sense of safety and meaningful embodied intimacy and pleasure. 

For more information on her work please visit www.susanstark.com.au.