Sexual Violence Awareness Month
On this page
Sexual Violence (SV) Awareness Month is held during October each year to:
- raise community awareness about sexual violence
- promote the support options available to people affected by sexual assault and sexual abuse
- uphold a clear message that sexual violence will not be tolerated in our communities.
There is a role for everyone to make our communities safer and reduce the risk and incidence of sexual violence.
You can get involved in SV Awareness Month by downloading our free resources designed to be shared with your family, friend, workplaces and community groups, and community groups below.
SV Awareness Month Resources
Social media tiles and other promotional assets are available to help you raise awareness during Awareness Month.
View and download the full suite of resources.
Registering an event
Show your support for SV Awareness Month by hosting an event and registering the details on the Women's Safety and Violence Prevention community events calendar.
The calendar promotes events delivered by community organisations that help bring the community together and reinforce that violence is not acceptable in Queensland.
Register your SV Awareness Month event.
Find a SV Awareness Month event near you
During the month, we encourage all Queenslanders to engage in open and honest conversations about sexual violence. We are encouraging the community to host events and activities to support victim-survivors and to encourage discussion around consent, respect, and bystander intervention.
If you have been impacted by sexual assault, rape or sexual violence, it is important to know there are a range of help and support options available. It is not your fault, and you are not to blame.
Everyone deserves to be safe from sexual violence. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, help and support is available.
Queensland has introduced several new laws to better protect people from the threat and experience of sexual violence. These changes to the laws include moving to an affirmative model of consent and recognising ‘stealthing’ as a crime.
These new laws commenced on 23 September 2024 and apply to conduct that occurs after this date. Visit the Sexual violence laws in Queensland page for more information and downloadable resources.
Laws targeting sexual offences against children
Position of authority offence
From 20 September 2025, a new law took effect in Queensland to offer better protection for young people aged 16 or 17 years old from sexual exploitation by adults in positions of authority.
The new position of authority offence criminalises adults who use their influence, trust or power to abuse young people under their care supervision of authority.
This conduct is a serious breach of trust and, if convicted, offenders will face a maximum penalty of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
For more information and resources visit the position of authority information page.
Failure to report offence
In 2021, Queensland strengthened laws to increase protection of children from the risk of sexual abuse.
The failure to report offence requires all adults must report sexual offending against children to the police, unless they have a reasonable excuse.
You can find information and resources on the failure to report offence information page.
Sexual violence is not only physical assault. It is any unwanted, non-consensual sexual behaviour towards another person.
Learn more about sexual consent and different ways of asking, giving and withdrawing consent with our consent conversation starters.
We all deserve healthy relationships and positive sexual experiences based on mutual trust and respect. Talking about consent is a normal and necessary part of all positive sexual experiences. Learn more about sexual consent and check out our consent conversation starters.
Find out more
You can continue to follow the conversation year-round on the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Queensland Facebook page or by following the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety on LinkedIn.