The Victorian Government has launched the Responding to Sexual Violence and Harmful Sexual Behaviour Capability Framework.
It outlines the skills and knowledge that professionals need to deliver effective, safe and trauma-informed support to victim survivors. This includes guidance on how to:
- work in Victoria’s specialist sexual assault sector
- meet the diverse needs of victim survivors, including children, young people and First Nations communities
- support victim survivors throughout all stages such as initial response, therapeutic support and navigating the justice system.
The Responding to Sexual Violence and Harmful Sexual Behaviour Framework is designed for professionals such as counsellors, advocates, clinicians and managers working in the specialist sexual assault sector.
The framework was developed in partnership with Sexual Assault Services Victoria, and in consultation with the specialist sexual assault sector workforce. The framework is the first of its kind in Australia for the sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviour workforces.
This framework is one of three developed by the Victorian Government in the past year to support the family and sexual violence sectors:
- Responding to Family Violence Capability Framework – released in December 2025
- Primary Prevention of Family and Gender-Based Violence Capability Framework
- Responding to Sexual Violence and Harmful Sexual Behaviours Capability Framework
Together, these frameworks help with workforce planning and development across the family violence and sexual assault sectors.
For more information about the updated framework, visit the Family and sexual violence capability frameworks webpage.