The state government will establish an advisory group to better inform its third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan by hearing directly from victim-survivors.
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The government recently launched consultation on the plan which includes a new online survey that will be open for the next 12 months.
The Hearing Lived Experience Survey, online at www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au, and other consultation elements are intended to put victim-survivor voices at the centre of the government's approach to the plan, government minister Jacquie Petrusma said.
"What's come across to us very strongly is that we need to hear the voices of victim-survivors," she said.
"Those with lived experience need to be the heart, need to be the soul, need to be at the centre of our action plans.
"For our last action plan, we heard the voices of 500 victim-survivors.
"This time, we want people in every corner of Tasmania to come forward and to fill in the survey so that we can learn, so that we can hear from them about what their experiences have been."
Ms Petrusma, who is a victim-survivor of family violence, said the rate of family violence in Tasmania rose by 2 per cent last year.
"What we do know is that our hardworking family and sexual violence counseling services and other services did experience constant demand and more demand," she said.
Sexual Assault Support Service chief executive Jill Maxwell said the government had been receptive to the high rates of referrals that the service had experienced over the past five years.
"We experienced one of the most dramatic increases in referrals last financial year and we're already exceeding that this financial year," she said.
In addition to the establishment of a Victim-Survivor Advisory Council, Northern Midlands mayor Mary Knowles will be the government's consultation ambassador.
Ms Knowles, a survivor of child sexual abuse and family violence, had to change her name and the names of her children and flee to Tasmania to escape her situation.
She said it was when she heard the words 'you have the right to feel safe' that she decided to take control of her life.
"I'd just like to encourage other people, boys as well as girls, males and females, to speak up and tell their stories so that a good grounding can be had in the services that are offered," Ms Knowles said.
The government will offer workshops over the plan with key stakeholders and a partnership with Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations during consultations.
It will also accept written submissions on the plan.
The new action plan is due to be released in July.
- If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence, please call the Family Violence Response and Referral Line 24/7 on 1800 633 937.
- If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual violence, please call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Line 24/7 on 1800 697 877.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
